EP3502336B1 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Washing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3502336B1
EP3502336B1 EP18213640.8A EP18213640A EP3502336B1 EP 3502336 B1 EP3502336 B1 EP 3502336B1 EP 18213640 A EP18213640 A EP 18213640A EP 3502336 B1 EP3502336 B1 EP 3502336B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tanks
door
duct
dedicated
washing machine
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP18213640.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3502336A1 (en
Inventor
Aldo Fumagalli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Candy SpA
Original Assignee
Candy SpA
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Publication of EP3502336A1 publication Critical patent/EP3502336A1/en
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
    • D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
    • D06F39/083—Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
    • D06F39/028—Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device and method for washing laundry, in particular to a domestic washing machine.
  • Domestic washing machines comprise a supporting and housing structure, inside which a washing tub is housed provided with a front opening which can be closed by a porthole door frontally hinged to the housing.
  • a basket to accommodate the laundry to be washed is arranged inside the washing tub in a rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis.
  • the basket also defines a front opening positioned at the opening of the washing tub, in order to be able to load and unload the laundry.
  • the washing tub is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the steps of the laundry washing.
  • a water loading system connectable to the water mains is provided in order to allow loading water from the mains, detergents and additive agents into the tank.
  • the detergent tray can be configured as a drawer which can be extracted from and inserted in the housing structure and which can be filled manually for each wash with an amount of detergent and/or treatment additive sufficient for a single washing cycle.
  • Washing machines with so-called “multiple dispensing” washing substance dispensing and dosing systems are also known configured to contain an amount of treatment agent sufficient for a plurality of washing cycles and to automatically dispense a controlled dose of treatment agent for each washing cycle.
  • an electric resistor is provided, arranged inside the tank in the gap between the wall of the laundry basket.
  • washing machines In order to reduce the consumption of water and detergent, it is known to equip washing machines with recirculation systems which recover the washing liquid from the washing machines with recirculation systems which recover the washing liquid from the bottom of the tub (where it accumulates even before touching the laundry in the basket) and reintroduce the recovered liquid into the laundry basket, so that a reduced volume of liquid is repeatedly poured on the laundry to be washed.
  • Recirculation systems usually comprise a recirculation duct which extends outside the washing tub from a lower opening of the washing tub (for drawing the liquid to be recirculated) to an upper opening of the washing tub (for reintroducing the recirculated liquid), as well as an electric recirculation pump or ejector.
  • EP2602378A1 and EP2743393A1 describe both laundry washing machines with detergent multi-dosage capabilities and can be considered closest state of the art for the subject invention.
  • Specific objects of the embodiments of the invention are to facilitate the interaction between user and washing machine, to reduce the number of loading and/or cleaning and/or maintenance and/or manipulation operations of the detergent loading system, to assist users in choosing the type and amount of the treatment agents for each washing cycle.
  • Further objects of the invention are to improve laundry washing and treatment performance, as well as save resources, in particular of washing and/or treatment agents, electricity, water, volumes, dimensions.
  • a washing machine comprises:
  • the dispensing system (17) comprises a dosing pump (36) either fixed in the door (4) or outside the door (4), said dosing pump (36) comprising:
  • the plurality of tanks (18) comprises an individual tank (34) and a multi-tank unit (35) having a plurality of said tanks (18) connected to one another, wherein the multi-tank unit (35) may be reversibly coupled to the door (4) as an individual body and independent from the individual tank (34), and wherein the individual tank (34) may be reversibly coupled to the door (4) independently of the multi-tank unit (35).
  • the dispensing system (17) comprises, for each tank (18), a dedicated dosing pump (36'), and the tanks (18) are connected to the respective dedicated dosing pumps (36') by means of respective dedicated transfer ducts (44'), optionally each equipped with a non-return valve (63).
  • the plurality of tanks (18) comprises:
  • each of the tanks (18) forms a dispensing opening (19) directly facing the basket (5).
  • a washing machine 1 or washer-dryer comprise a supporting and housing structure 2, inside which a washing tub 3 is housed, provided with a front opening which can be closed by a porthole door 4 frontally hinged to the housing 2.
  • a basket 5 to accommodate the laundry to be washed 3 is arranged inside the washing tub in a rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis.
  • the basket 5 also defines a front opening positioned at the opening of the washing tub, in order to be able to load and unload of the laundry.
  • the washing tub 3 is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the steps of the laundry washing.
  • a water loading system connectable to the water mains is provided in order to allow the loading of the tank 3 with water from the mains.
  • the loading system 20 may comprise a plurality of ducts which extend, e.g. from one or more, e.g. two supply solenoid valves 6, 7, either directly or through detergent compartments of a detergent basin 8 (optional), to the washing tub 3.
  • a draining duct 10 is connected to the bottom of the washing tub 3 with associated draining pump 11 which removes the washing liquid from the tank 3 and which controls, together with the supply solenoid valves 6, 7, the liquid level inside the tank 3.
  • an electric resistor 12 may be provided arranged inside the tank 3, in particular on the bottom of the tank 9, in the gap between the wall of the laundry basket 5.
  • the laundry basket 5 can be actuated in rotation by an electric motor 13 and a transmission 14, e.g. a belt.
  • the operation of the washing machine 1 is controlled by an electronic control unit 15, operatively connected to a user control interface 16 positioned at an outer wall or at the door 4 of the housing 2 and which allows the selection of washing and/or drying cycles (more generally, of treatment cycles) and their features.
  • the control unit 15 controls the various components of the washing machine 1 for automatically washing the laundry.
  • the washing machine 1 further comprises a dispensing system 17 of the "multiple dosing" type for dispensing laundry treatment agents.
  • the dispensing system 17 comprises a plurality of tanks 18 to contain the treatment agents, e.g. detergent for resistant white fabric items, detergent for delicate colored fabric items, detergent for wool, perfuming substances, enzymes and / or stain-removing substances other than enzymes, fixing agents and/or fabric softener.
  • the plurality of tanks 18 is preferably positioned in the porthole door 4 and the individual tanks 18 are dimensioned to each contain a volume of the treatment agent sufficient for a plurality of washing cycles.
  • Multi-dosing tanks with dispensing openings and integrated pumps are Multi-dosing tanks with dispensing openings and integrated pumps
  • each of the tanks 18 forms a dispensing opening 19 directly facing the basket 5, so as to directly dispense the treatment agent and not require modifications to the water loading system 20.
  • the porthole door 4 is free from water pipes.
  • each of the tanks 18 includes an internal dosing and dispensing mechanism 21 directly on the tank 18, but configured to interact with an external dispensing actuator 22, positioned in the door 4 externally to the tank 18.
  • the internal dosing and dispensing mechanism 21 and the external dispensing actuator 22 are configured for magnetic interaction.
  • the dosing and dispensing mechanism 21 comprises:
  • the dosing chamber 23 is shaped as a cup or as a cylinder open on one side, with a bottom wall 26 which accommodates the non-return valve 24 and with a peripheral wall 27 which delimits together with the bottom wall 26 said (predetermined) dosing volume.
  • the dosing member 25 By moving from the retracted position to the protracted position, the dosing member 25, e.g. a dosing piston, sealingly engages the peripheral wall 27 so as to prevent the return of treatment agent from the dosing chamber 23 into the inner space 29 of the tank 18 and to force the treatment agent through the non-return valve 24 and the dispensing opening 19 into the basket 5.
  • a further non-return valve 28 positioned between the dosing chamber 23 and the inner space 29 (e.g. in a channel formed in the dosing piston 25) allows the passage of liquid from the inner space 29 into the dosing chamber 23.
  • the dosing member 25 comprises a magnetically susceptible (in particular attractable) element 30, e.g. a ferromagnetic or magnetic block, for a displacement of the dosing member 25 via magnetic actuation from the outside of the tank 18.
  • a magnetically susceptible (in particular attractable) element 30 e.g. a ferromagnetic or magnetic block
  • the flow actuator 22 may comprise an electromagnet 31 positioned outside the tank 18 but near the dosing and dispensing mechanism 21 and can be energized by the control unit 15 so as to actuate the displacements of the dosing member 25.
  • the flow actuator 22 may comprise a magnetic or magnetically susceptible structure 32 positioned outside the tank 18 but near the dosing and dispensing mechanism 21 and movable (e.g. by means of a motor or a solenoid controlled by the control unit 15) so as to actuate the displacements of the dosing member 25.
  • the tank 18 or each tank 18 comprises a loading opening which can be closed by means of a plug 33 and the dosing mechanism and dispensing mechanism 21 is integrated, at least in part, in said plug 21.
  • the dispensing system 17 comprises a dosing pump 36 which is fixed in the door 4 ( figure 15 ).
  • one or more dosing pumps 36, 36' is arranged in the housing 2 outside the door 4, while the tanks 18 are either formed or positioned in the door 4 and connected to the single or multiple dosing pumps 36, 36' by means of connection ducts 59 extending at a hinge 61', 61" which connects the door 4 to a front wall of the housing 2.
  • the hinge 61', 61" comprises a lower hinge 61' and an upper hinge 61" and the connection ducts 59 extend in a (protected) space between the lower hinge 61' and the upper hinge 61" ( figure 13 ).
  • the dosing pump 36 comprises a cylinder 37 which defines a predetermined dosing volume and which forms an inlet opening 38 with an inlet non-return valve 39 and an opening outlet 40 with an outlet non-return valve 41, as well as a piston 42 movable by means of an actuator 43, e.g. a solenoid or actuating motor, which in turn is controlled by the control unit 15.
  • an actuator 43 e.g. a solenoid or actuating motor
  • the tanks 18 are or can be connected to the inlet opening 38 of the dosing pump 36 by means of respective transfer ducts 44 each provided with a selection valve 45 for selectively opening and interrupting the fluid connection between each of the tanks 18 and the dosing pump 36.
  • a rinsing duct 46 may be provided positioned in the door 4 and in communication with the transfer duct 44.
  • the rinsing duct 46 is connected to the water loading system 20, by means of a supply valve 6' and an air gap 58, and connects to a portion of the transfer duct or ducts 44 upstream of the inlet non-return valve 39 of the dosing pump 36.
  • the tanks 18 can be either fixed in the door 4 or extractable from door 4 for the purpose of filling them.
  • the single outlet openings of the tanks 18 are placed in communication with a single transfer duct 44 respectively by means of a plurality of selection valves 45 arranged in series (one behind the other) along the transfer duct 44.
  • Each selection valve 45 has a first inlet opening 47 and an outlet opening 48 which connect the selection valve 45 in the transfer duct 44 (ensuring the continuity), as well as a second inlet opening 49 which connects the selection valve 45 to the outlet opening of the respective tank 18.
  • the first 47 and second 49 inlet openings and the outlet opening 48 of the selection valve 45 are in mutual communication to allow:
  • the selection valve 45 also comprises a shutter 50 movable to:
  • the rinsing duct 46 is connected to the transfer duct 44 upstream of the selection valves 45 and the transfer duct 44 is connected to the dosing pump 36 downstream of the selector valve 45, as shown for example in figures 3 and 4 .
  • the dosing pump 36 can aspirate and dose in a selective manner the treatment agent of the selected tank, while the flow of the rinsing water is intercepted (blocked) at the selection valve 45 of the selected tank and all remaining input flows of the treatment agents are intercepted (blocked) at the selection valves 45 of the non-selected tanks 18.
  • the entire transfer duct 44, including all selection valves 45, and the dosing pump 36 can be crossed and cleaned by the flow of the rinsing water, while all the input streams of the treatment agents are intercepted (blocked) at the selector valve 45 ( figures 3, 4, 5 ).
  • a pumping unit 60 containing:
  • the outlet opening 40 of the dosing pump 36 can be connected to (an ejector 62 placed in) a supply duct 65 connected to the water loading system 20 by means of a supply solenoid valve 6" and in communication with the inside of the basket 5 or of the tub 3, so as to transport (by aspiring by the ejector 62) the treatment agents, dispensed by means of the dosing pump 36, into the basket 5 or into the washing tub 3.
  • the transfer duct 44 connects the selection valves 45 in series to one another and with the dispensing pump 36 and a plurality of dedicated transfer ducts 44' connect the selection valves 45 (which can be outside the door 4, for example) to the respective tanks 18 (inside the door 18).
  • a rinsing duct 46' located completely outside the door 4 may be provided in order to avoid the formation of scaling and deposits in selection valves 45 and in the transfer ducts 44, 44'.
  • the rinsing duct 46' comprises a distribution duct 66 connected to the water loading system 20 by means of a supply valve 6', and a plurality of dedicated ducts 67 branched from the distribution duct 66.
  • Each of the dedicated ducts 67 comprises a non-return rinsing valve 68 and is connected to respectively one of the dedicated transfer ducts 44' at a point upstream of the selection valve 45 and downstream of a non-return valve 63 of the tank 18 ( figure 11B ).
  • the mains water fills the entire rinsing duct 46' and washes the transfer ducts 44, 44' downstream of the non-return valves 63 and the selection valves 45. During this washing, the mains water pressure in the dedicated transfer ducts 44' keeps the non-return valves 63 closed thus preventing the mains water from entering into the tanks 18.
  • the supply valve 6 is closed and the dosing pump 36 is activated to fill the dedicated transfer ducts 44' again with liquid treatment agent aspirated from the tanks 18.
  • the supply valve 6' is held closed and the dosing pump 36 and a selected selection valve 45 is activated, thus generating a vacuum in the corresponding dedicated transfer duct 44' which opens the non-return valve 63 associated with the selected tank 18 and aspirates the selected treatment agent from selected tank 18.
  • the vacuum in the dedicated transfer duct 44' cannot aspirate mains water from the rinsing duct 46' or treatment agents from the other tanks 18.
  • the pumping assembly 60 may be completely inside the door 4, thus allowing a direct dispensing in the basket 5 and avoiding the need for a further duct with ejector for transporting the dosed treatment agents into the tank 3 or in the basket 5.
  • Multi-dosing dispensing system with a plurality of dedicated pumps
  • the dispensing system 17 comprises a dedicated dosing pump 36' ( figures 10 , 11 , 14 ), preferably volumetric pumps, such as a cylinder-piston-pump, for each treatment agent tank 18.
  • the tanks 18 are connected or can be connected to the respective dedicated dosing pumps 36' by means of respective dedicated transfer ducts 44', optionally each equipped with a non-return valve 63.
  • the dedicated dosing pumps 36' are fixed in the door 4, their outlet openings may be in direct communication with the inside of the basket 5 or connected to a common output duct 64 which opens into the drum 5.
  • the dedicated dosing pumps 36' are connected to a common output duct 64 connected to (an ejector 62 placed in) a supply duct 65 connected to the water loading system 20 by means of a supply solenoid valve 6" and in communication with the inside the basket 5 or, optionally, of the tub 3, so as to transport (by means of the aspiration of the ejector 62) the treatment agents dispensed by the dedicated dosing pumps 36' up to the basket 5 or to the washing tub 3.
  • a rinsing duct 46' may be provided positioned, according to embodiments, either at least partly in the door 4 or completely outside the door 4.
  • the rinsing duct 46' comprises a distribution duct 66 connected to the water loading system 20 by means of a supply valve 6', and a plurality of dedicated ducts 67 branched from the distribution duct 66.
  • Each of the dedicated ducts 67 comprises a non-return rinsing valve 68 and is connected to respectively one of the dedicated transfer ducts 44' at a point upstream of the dedicated dosing valve 36' and downstream of the non-return valve 63 ( figure 11A ).
  • the mains water fills the entire rinsing duct 46' and washes the dedicated transfer ducts 44' downstream of the non-return valves 63 and the dedicated dosing valves 36'. During this washing, the mains water pressure in the dedicated transfer ducts 44' keeps the non-return valves 63 closed thus preventing the mains water from entering into the tanks 18.
  • the supply valve 6' is closed and the dedicated dosing pumps 36' are activated to fill the dedicated transfer ducts 44' again with liquid treatment agent aspirated from the tanks 18.
  • the supply valve 6' is held closed and the selected dedicated dosing pump 36 is activated, thus generating a vacuum in the corresponding dedicated transfer duct 44' which opens the non-return valve 63 associated with the selected tank 18 and aspirates the selected treatment agent from selected tank 18.
  • the vacuum in the dedicated transfer duct 44' cannot aspirate mains water from the rinsing duct 46' or treatment agents from the other tanks 18.
  • the tanks 18 may be either fixed to the door 4 or extractable from door 4 for filling.
  • a pumping unit 60' containing:
  • the pumping assembly 60' may be completely inside the door 4, thus allowing a direct dispensing in the basket 5 and obviating the need for a further duct with ejector for transporting the dosed treatment agents into the tank 3 or in the basket 5.
  • the dispensing system 17 further comprises:
  • the auxiliary duct 52 is branched from (or connected to) the rinsing duct 46 in a branching point 53 downstream of the air gap 58 (in the rinsing duct 46) and upstream of the transfer duct 44, and forms an elevated segment 55 (e.g. in the form of inverted siphon) positioned higher than the transfer duct 44 but lower than the air gap 58, so that the dispensing of liquid treatment agent from the tanks 18 can occur while maintaining the water level in the auxiliary duct under the height of the segment 55, and therefore without dispensing detergent powder from the auxiliary compartment 51.
  • an elevated segment 55 e.g. in the form of inverted siphon
  • the dispensing of detergent powder from the auxiliary compartment 51 without simultaneous dispensing of liquid treatment agent from the tanks 18 may be performed by filling the rinsing duct 46 beyond the level of the elevated segment 55 so as to achieve the aforesaid auxiliary flow in the auxiliary compartment 51, e.g. by blocking the water flow into the transfer duct 44 by means of the non-return valves 39, 41 or one of the selection valves 45.
  • the dispensing of detergent powder from the auxiliary compartment 51 may be performed simultaneously with a dispensing of the treatment liquid agent from one of the tanks 18.
  • the auxiliary duct 52 may comprise an on-off valve 56 which can be operated to control the dispensing of detergent powder from the auxiliary compartment 51. In this embodiment, it is possible to avoid the elevated segment 55.
  • the auxiliary duct 52 is connected to the water loading system 20 by means of an own supply valve 7' and an own air gap 58', thus providing a second water path, independent from the rinsing duct 46, for dispensing detergent powder from the auxiliary compartment 51 and for introducing water into the basket 5 or in the tub 3.
  • the auxiliary compartment 51 and, possibly, the channel 54 can be formed in an auxiliary insert 57 which can be inserted in the door 4 to operate the washing machine 1 with dispensing of detergent powder, and removable from the door 4 to operate the washing machine 1 without dispensing detergent powder from the door 4.
  • the insert 57 or an accessory cover 57' free from auxiliary compartment can be applied, as desired, from the inner side (facing in the basket 5) to the door 4 and form an inner surface facing in the basket 5 and in direct contact with the laundry to be washed ( figure 19 ).
  • the dispensing system 17 comprises a detergent detection device configured to detect the presence and absence of treatment agents inside the tanks 18 and generate a corresponding warning for the user.
  • the detergent detection device may comprise an optical sensor 69, e.g. a turbidity sensor, connected to the control unit 15 and associated with a transparent detection duct section formed in a transfer duct 44 downstream of the selection valves 45 and upstream of the dosing pump 36 and configured to generate an empty tank signal in case of air aspiration in the detection duct section.
  • an optical sensor 69 e.g. a turbidity sensor
  • the detergent detecting device may comprise a plurality of optical sensors 69', e.g. turbidity sensors, connected to the control unit 15 and each associated with a transparent detection duct section formed in the dedicated transfer duct 44' of each tank 18, upstream of the dedicated dosing pump 36' and, if provided, downstream of the non-return valve 63 ( figures 7 , 8 ).
  • the optical sensors 69' are configured to generate a tank empty signal in case of air aspiration into the detection duct segment with which they are associated.
  • the filling state detection of the tank 18 occurs during the aspiration of a selected treatment agent from a tank 18 and the control unit 15 attributes the detergent presence or absence signal generated by the optical sensor 69, 69' to the selected tank 18 and generates an "empty tank" alert for the user.
  • the plurality of tanks 18 comprises an individual tank 34 and a multiple-tank unit 35 having a plurality of said tanks 18 connected to one another,
  • the multiple-tank unit 35 is connectable/detachable to/from the door 4 as an independent unit from the individual tank 34, and the individual tank 34 can also be connected/detached to and from the door 4 independently from the multiple-tank unit 35. This is particularly advantageous if different treatment agents with different amounts of use and emptying times are used.
  • the individual tank 34 may contain enzymes and / or stain-removing substances other than enzymes, and require a filling at very low frequency
  • the tanks 18 of multi-tank unit 35 may separately contain a first detergent for white and resistant items, a second detergent for colored and delicate items and a fixing and/or softening agent and require more frequent filling.
  • the tank 18 containing the enzymes and / or stain-removing substances other than enzymes is arranged so as to be separated from the other tanks 18 and from the inside of the basket 5 by an air gap which constitutes a thermal insulation adapted to protect the enzymes and / or stain-removing substances other than enzymes from heat deterioration.
  • each tank 18 can be coupled/detached to and from the door 4 independently of the other tanks 18.
  • the tanks 18 and, possibly, the pumping unit 60, 60' are positioned in a lower portion 70 of the door 4, which can have a vertical extension of at least or more than half, preferably between 1/2 and 2/3, of the total height of the door 4 and which is covered by an outer cover 71, preferably opaque so as to conceal the dispensing system 17 to the user.
  • the tanks 18 are either received or formed in an oscillating drawer 72' partially extractable from and insertible into the door 4 by means of a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis so as to allow access to the tanks 18 from the outside of the door 4 (opposite side to the basket 5) and from the top ( figure 18 ), for filling and for extracting and inserting or for replacing the tanks 18, e.g. for maintenance or cleaning of the tanks 18.
  • the tanks 18 are either received or formed in a translatable drawer 72 partially extractable from and inserted into the door 4 by means of a translational movement along a horizontal axis so as to allow access to the tanks 18 from the outside of the door 4 (opposite side to the basket 5) and from the top, both for filling and for extracting and inserting or for replacing the tanks 18, e.g. for maintenance operations or for cleaning the tanks 18.
  • the tanks 18 and transfer ducts 44, 44' of the pumping units 60, 60' are connected by means of male-female hydraulic connectors 73 ( figures 15 , 20, 21 ), which in the disconnecting configuration close both the tank and the transfer duct 44, 44' and in the connecting configuration open a fluid passage between the tank 18 and the transfer duct 44, 44'.
  • An upper portion 74 of the door 4 formed above the lower portion 70 containing the tanks 18 is preferably transparent and forms a porthole area to allow viewing the inside of the basket 5 from the outside of the door 4.
  • the auxiliary insert 57 forming the auxiliary compartment 51 for detergent powder and the auxiliary attachment 57' are preferably housed in the upper portion 74 of the door 4 ( figures 15 , 19 ).
  • the tanks 18 comprise refillable, rigid or semi-rigid containers having a stable shape which can be inserted into and removable from the door 4 through a front opening on the outer side of the door 4, which can be closed by the outer cover 71, preferably a swinging cover which can be opened by tilting downwards.
  • the refillable containers are provided with a filling opening with cap 75 and a manual grip portion 76 to facilitate extraction from the door 4 ( figure 24 ).
  • the fluid connection of the tanks 18 to the pumping unit 60, 60' is achieved by means of the male-female hydraulic connectors 73.
  • Disposable rigid or semi-rigid tanks 18 are Disposable rigid or semi-rigid tanks 18
  • the tanks 18 comprise disposable, rigid or semi-rigid containers having a stable shape which can be inserted into and removable from the door 4 through a front opening on the outer side of the door 4, which can be closed by the outer cover 71, preferably a swinging cover which can be opened by tilting downwards.
  • the refillable or disposable containers may comprise one or more first arc-shaped containers with a peripheral surface in the shape of a circular arc and one or more second containers with a shape complementary to the shape of the first containers, so as to form together a volume in the shape of a semi-disc compatible with the circular shape of the door 4 ( figures 22 , 23 , 25-27 ).
  • the volume of the first containers is greater than the volume of the second containers to adapt their capacity to different consumptions of treatment agents.
  • Disposable flexible bag-like tanks 18 are Disposable flexible bag-like tanks 18
  • the tanks 18 comprise disposable flexible wall containers (bladder bags) which can be inserted into and removable from the door 4 through a front opening on the outer side of the door 4, which can be closed by the outer cover 71, preferably a swinging cover which can be opened by tilting downwards.
  • disposable flexible wall containers blade bags
  • the tanks 18 comprise disposable containers, in particular flexible plastic bags, for soaps and softeners (the consumption of which is notoriously high), as well as an individual refillable tank with stable form and smaller volume than the volumes of the disposable containers, for containing enzymes (the consumption of which is very low) and / or stain-removing substances other than enzymes.
  • the disposable flexible bag-like containers may have a generally elongated prism shape and possibly form together a volume with a trapezoidal shape which tapers downward, which fills well the lower portion semi-circular section of the door 4 ( figure 28 ).
  • the disposable tanks 18 may be fluidically connected to the pumping unit 60, 60' by means of the male-female hydraulic connectors 73, or by means of hydraulic connectors adapted to pierce the disposable containers and be inserted therein in a sealed manner.
  • the washing machine 1 may further comprise a system for recirculating the washing liquid from the bottom of the tank to the laundry basket, similarly to the recirculation systems described with reference to the prior art.
  • the present invention also relates to the washing method described with reference to the washing machine 1, the features of which are not repeated herein for brevity.
EP18213640.8A 2017-12-22 2018-12-18 Washing machine Active EP3502336B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT201700149096 2017-12-22

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EP3502336A1 EP3502336A1 (en) 2019-06-26
EP3502336B1 true EP3502336B1 (en) 2020-09-09

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EP (1) EP3502336B1 (es)
CN (1) CN109957936B (es)
ES (1) ES2834374T3 (es)

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EP3888521B1 (en) * 2020-03-30 2023-11-29 ELBI International S.p.A. Washing machine comprising a dispenser system for a detergent, such as a washing agent and/or a rinsing agent, associated with a door of a washing machine, in particular a dishwasher
US20220081823A1 (en) * 2020-09-14 2022-03-17 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Laundry appliance and additive dispensing assembly
US11851806B2 (en) 2020-11-06 2023-12-26 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Wirelessly powered additive dispensing assembly and laundry appliance
IT202100008237A1 (it) * 2021-04-01 2022-10-01 Elbi Int Spa Sistema per l’erogazione di una pluralità di agenti detergenti in una macchina lavatrice, quale una macchina lavabiancheria o una macchina lavastoviglie.
DE102022201879A1 (de) * 2022-02-23 2023-08-24 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Wäschepflegegerät mit einem Dosiermodul

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ES2834374T3 (es) 2021-06-17
CN109957936A (zh) 2019-07-02
CN109957936B (zh) 2021-07-30
RU2018145587A3 (es) 2022-03-22
EP3502336A1 (en) 2019-06-26

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