EP3666961A1 - Device with integrated laundry treatment functionality, support for such a device and method for use of such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) with integrated laundry treatment functionality, in particular a piece of laundry treatment furniture for domestic use, an item of clothing (2) being subjected to treatment in the device in an operating state, the device (1) comprising a carrier (3) for holding the item of clothing (2) in the device, the carrier (3) being configured in such a way that a first partial area (11) of the item of clothing (2) is clamped for the treatment without clamping a second partial area.

Description

The present invention relates to a device with integrated laundry treatment functionality, a carrier for such a device and a method for using such a device.

From the prior art, for example from WO 2016 099 225 A1 and the US 2015 0 159 315 A1 , Cabinets are known, which also have a laundry treatment functionality and z. B. automatically iron a shirt hung in the closet. Other examples of such cabinets are sold by SWASH®, Effie® or LG® (as LG Styler).

Typically, such treatment cabinets can refresh, dry, scent and / or iron the items of clothing arranged therein. By drying a shirt that is kept under tension using a tensioning system, wrinkles are to be removed here. Depending on the device and manufacturer, different methods are used to tension the shirt, such as: B. the inflation of a textile or iron-on doll in the shirt with warm air.

A disadvantage of such devices with integrated laundry treatment functionality has been found to be that they have to be dimensionally comparatively full-size if they are also to be used for large shirts for treatment. For example, the width of a stretched XXL shirt is from one sleeve end to the other sleeve end up to 180 cm. A corresponding laundry treatment cabinet for such shirts cannot be implemented with reasonable dimensions. To solve this problem, the prior art, in particular in the cabinets sold by SWASH®, knows, for example, the ironing of a folded garment, the folded garment clamped with clamps that are held under spring tension by a cable.

Proceeding from this, it is the object of the present invention to provide a space-economical device with integrated laundry treatment functionality and an associated method with which items of clothing can be treated as optimally as possible.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1, by a carrier according to claim 14 and a method according to claim 15. Further advantages and features of the invention result from the subclaims and the description and the attached figures.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a device with integrated laundry treatment functionality, in particular a piece of laundry treatment furniture for domestic use, is provided, with which an item of clothing can be subjected to a treatment in an operating state in the device, the device being a carrier for holding the item of clothing in the Device, wherein the wearer is configured to span a first portion of the garment for treatment without span a second portion.

Compared to the prior art, a device with laundry treatment functionality is provided, which is designed to span a first partial area without span a second partial area. As a result, the first and the second subarea of the garment can be treated in stages and at the same time the first subarea and the second subarea experience optimal and, in particular, individual treatment, which in turn has an advantageous effect on the quality of the treatment. In particular, it is not necessary to fold the garment. By treating the garment in stages, it can also be avoided that the garment is complete must be spanned. Accordingly, the device can be dimensioned comparatively small, even if above-average clothing sizes are to be treated.

The device is preferably a closed room, in the interior of which the treatment takes place in the operating state. Possible operating states are, for example, ironing, scenting, refreshing, wrinkling and / or washing. It is particularly preferred to iron the garment within the device. Accordingly, treatment devices are provided for the treatment, with which, for example, a cleaning and / or fragrance can be sprayed onto the garment or with which the garment can be ironed. For example, nozzles, spray elements and / or heating elements are provided for this, which can carry out the treatment. In particular, these treatment devices can be moved or moved within the interior in which the treatment takes place in order to align or move the respective treatment device relative to the item of clothing. The device preferably comprises a flap and / or door or a roller blind which, in the open state, allows the item of clothing to be placed within the device or removed again after the device has been treated, in particular without the device itself being entered got to. The device is preferably a piece of furniture, that is to say a piece of laundry treatment furniture for domestic use. Accordingly, the piece of furniture is, for example, a cupboard or a chest of drawers or integrated into this. It is also conceivable that the items of clothing are also in the device or in the item of laundry treatment furniture in a non-operating state. The piece of laundry treatment furniture can also be mounted displaceably and, for example, have rollers on its base, which allow the device to be moved or moved anywhere in the apartment.

A carrier is to be understood in particular as an element on which the respective item of clothing can be put on. The carrier is preferably constructed in the manner of a hanger or similar to a hanger and is, for example, largely placed within the item of clothing during the treatment. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the wearer contacts or touches the garment on its outside and / or inside at certain points or all around. This is achieved, for example, by means of an appropriately dimensioned wire body. Shirts, pants, hats, dresses or coats can be used as clothing. A first partial area could, for example, be a sleeve of a shirt or a central area of the shirt. The first partial area is preferably separated from the second partial area or a third partial area by a seam on the garment. It is also conceivable that the first partial area includes, for example, the collar or the cuffs of a shirt. A person skilled in the art understands in a stretching in particular that the first partial area of the garment is at least in a state that allows the entire surface of the first partial area to be subjected to the respective treatment uniformly and homogeneously homogeneously. The unstressed second sub-area differs from this in that it does not protrude at all and / or only partially. In particular, the unclamped second section has no rigidity at all, but essentially simply hangs down. The spanned first partial area preferably takes up a volume that corresponds to at least 80% of the maximum ingestible volume of the first partial area, and / or the second partial area takes up a volume that corresponds to a maximum of 20% of the maximum ingestible volume of the second partial area.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the device, in particular the carrier, is configured such that the first part of the garment is stretched in a first treatment step and a second part of the garment is stretched in a second treatment step. In particular, it is provided that the second partial area is not spanned in the first treatment step and the first partial area in the second treatment step is not spanned. Furthermore, it is conceivable that a third partial area is formed and this third partial area is spanned, for example, during the first treatment step and the second treatment step or is spanned in an alternative mode in a third treatment step without the first partial area and the second partial area being spanned simultaneously . For example, the first partial area is a first sleeve of a shirt, the second partial area is a second sleeve of the shirt, and a third partial area is the central body area of the shirt. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the number of sub-areas can be continued as desired and, with a corresponding increase in the sub-areas, the space required for clamping can be reduced, in particular if each individual sub-area is clamped separately without the other sub-areas simultaneously be spanned. In particular, it is provided that the first partial area, the second partial area and / or the third partial area can be determined on the basis of the textile dimensions and type. For example, a sleeve can only be divided along its longitudinal direction into elements that can be stretched individually (from the inside), but not transversely to it. The same applies to the central part of a shirt: it can essentially only be opened as a whole, vertical division into segments would be possible, horizontal division would not work. This differentiates in particular from tensioning elements that contact the item of clothing selectively. Accordingly, very compact or space-saving devices with laundry treatment functionality can be built. The carrier is preferably configured such that a user can set whether the third chamber and the second chamber should be spanned simultaneously or individually.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the device, in particular the cabinet, is dimensioned such that only the first partial area or the second partial area can be spanned simultaneously.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the carrier is movably mounted. It is conceivable that the carrier can rotate and / or can carry out a translational movement. It is also conceivable that the wearer can be pivoted at least in some areas in order to, for example, align the garment during treatment (in particular at an angle to the direction of gravity). The carrier is preferably fastened to a rail along which the carrier can be moved. It is preferably provided that during the first treatment step the first partial area is spanned on a first side of the device and during the second treatment step the second partial area is spanned on a second side of the device opposite the first side. However, it is also conceivable that the carrier can be rotated about an axis of rotation, in particular between the first and the second treatment step. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the carrier or part of the carrier to be pivotable. For this purpose, a hinge is integrated in the interface between the rod or rail and the carrier or in the carrier itself. The carrier can then be pivoted, for example, by means of a pneumatic or electrical actuator. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the movement of the carrier can be carried out manually, for example via a lever attached outside the device, or can be carried out automatically. The translational movement preferably takes place parallel to the main plane of extent of the suspended garment or perpendicular to the course of a rail or rod on which the garment is suspended by means of the carrier. A drive device or an actuator can be integrated in the carrier and / or in the housing or the suspension for the carrier.

It is preferably provided that the device is configured such that the carrier is or can be transferred from a first orientation in the first treatment step to a second orientation in the second treatment step. As a result, it is advantageously possible to align the garment in such a way that there is sufficient space within the device for Clamping the respective first or second partial area of the garment. For example, the carrier can be moved laterally between the first treatment step and the second treatment step, so that the space freed up on the side is sufficient in each case that the respective partial area can be spanned. In particular, the wearer is moved a distance that enables the half of the garment to be ironed to be expanded or stretched in the part of the device that is then exposed. For this purpose, the item of clothing is preferably conveyed to an edge region of the device.

In one embodiment it is provided that the first partial area and / or the second partial area can be mechanically and / or pneumatically clamped. For example, mechanical tensioning can be realized by means of a spring system or a spring frame or a rope tensioning system or the like. In this case, the integration of compressed air and compressed air lines can be dispensed with. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the first partial area and / or the second partial area is clamped pneumatically. In this case, one could do without complex rope tensioning systems or leaf spring frames. The advantage of a mechanical solution for clamping the first partial area or second partial area can be seen in the fact that a comparatively thin spring and / or rope construction can save corresponding space. It is preferably conceivable that the first and / or second partial area can be pneumatically clamped and the third partial area can be mechanically clamped or vice versa.

It is preferably provided that the carrier has an inflatable first chamber and / or a second inflatable chamber, the first chamber being filled with a fluid in the first treatment step and / or the second chamber being filled with the fluid in the second treatment step. For example, the fluid is a vapor and / or gas that is introduced under pressure into the respective first chamber and / or second chamber in order to inflate it and in particular to maintain the inflated state. This is In particular, a control system is provided in which at least one line is led into each of the first chamber and / or the second chamber and the fluid is guided into the first chamber or second chamber in a controlled manner via a valve system, in particular by means of one or more control valves. The valves can, for example, be integrated in the carrier and / or in the rail on which the carrier is slidably mounted. In particular, the valves are designed such that they can be switched depending on the position or orientation of the carrier. For this purpose, electrical interfaces and / or mechanical interfaces are used, for example, which can be used to control the respective valves or the valve system.

In particular, it is provided that in the first chamber and / or the second chamber at least one strut is provided for the targeted alignment of the first part of the garment in the first treatment step and in the second treatment step. By means of this strut, for example as in a ribbed air mattress in the form of a divided inflatable body, it can be avoided, for example, that a depth in the inflated state of the first partial area or of the second partial area becomes too great and that a correspondingly larger dimensioning of the device would be necessary. Instead, one could specifically achieve an elliptical deformation in the inflated state, which makes it possible to implement a device that is as flat as possible with integrated laundry treatment functionality. Depth is understood to mean the extent that is perpendicular to the main plane of extension of the hanging garment. The strut is preferably made of an elastic or flexible material. In particular, the strut can be used to control and control the orientation in the inflated state in such a way that it can be adapted to the desired dimensioning of the device with integrated laundry treatment functionality.

It is preferably provided that the carrier is made at least in regions from an air-permeable material, in particular in the region of the first Chamber, the second chamber and / or the third chamber. For example, the carrier is partially made of slightly air-permeable textile material, such as parachute silk. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the carrier has folding systems for cuffs, button strips and / or collars, as well as means for adapting the shape and size of the carrier to the garment, such as. B. a constriction.

In particular, it is provided that the device has a heating device and / or a cooling device for setting a temperature of the fluid to be introduced into the first chamber and / or the second chamber. This allows the temperature of the fluid within the first chamber and / or the second chamber to be set. In particular, this enables hot or warm steam to be arranged within the first chamber when it is inflated, for example, and thus already has a warming effect on the first part of the garment.

It is further provided that the device is designed to pneumatically transfer the carrier between the first orientation and the second orientation. As a result, in particular the pressure fluid which is provided for filling the first and / or second chamber can be used to transfer the carrier between the first orientation and the second orientation. It is particularly provided that the device takes advantage of the fact that the movement of the carrier and the inflation of one of the chambers take place synchronously. In particular, it is then sufficient to use a valve position by means of a control valve, to fill the chamber with the fluid synchronously and at the same time to move the carrier or a part of the carrier. For example, the compressed air provides a translational movement along the rail by filling a pneumatic cylinder or a balloon element. For this purpose, for example, a negligible part of the inflation air is used to control or supply the pneumatic actuator. It is conceivable that the carrier has a stationary part that serves as an abutment for the pneumatic actuator and a movable part that the by means of the pneumatic actuator Transfer from the first alignment to the second alignment implemented. For example, the movable part is pushed away from the stationary part serving as an abutment by means of the pneumatic actuator. For example, the movable part includes a sliding guide such. B. a ball bearing roller guide. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the pneumatic actuator can be used additionally or alternatively for transferring the carrier from the first orientation to the second orientation if the movement is a rotational movement and / or a pivoting movement. As a result, less mechanics are required in the device and it is possible to dispense with active position control.

It is preferably provided that the carrier can be exchangeably fastened in an interface in the device. The exchangeable fastening means that different types of carriers can be used in the laundry treatment device. It is particularly advantageous if the respective wearer is adapted to the corresponding item of clothing. For example, it is conceivable that the straps are designed to be size-dependent and / or fit-dependent. It is also conceivable that the strap for a shirt is different from the strap for pants. It is particularly necessary that the carrier is compatible with an interface to which it is coupled to the rail and / or suspension in the device. In particular, corresponding lines, in particular electrical lines and / or compressed air lines, must be able to be coupled to one another at the interface. For example, a line is provided for each chamber, the line having a section on the support side and a section on the suspension side. The section on the carrier side and the section on the suspension side are designed such that they merge into one another in a sealing manner or are coupled to one another when the carrier is suspended from the suspension or the interface in the device. It is also advantageous that the items of clothing can be put on several carriers in stock, in particular during a treatment process for another item of clothing, so that a quick change between items of clothing to be treated is possible is. The same applies to the aftertreatment of the garments if you use an interchangeable carrier. Furthermore, the carrier is a spare part that is comparatively easy to replace if the originally used carrier has broken, for example.

Furthermore, it is provided that the device comprises several carriers with which several items of clothing in the device can be individually treated. In particular, it is provided that the respective wearer whose garment is to be treated is first exposed, for example by a lateral movement of the wearer (in a direction perpendicular to the main plane of extension) and then the respective garment is treated on the corresponding wearer.

In a further preferred embodiment, the carrier is designed as a temple manikin. The iron-on manikin in particular assumes the shape of the respective item of clothing and thus allows the respective partial area or first partial area and the second partial area to be inflated as optimally as possible, in which the respective surfaces of the first or second partial area can be supported or stretched uniformly.

Another aspect of the present invention is a carrier for the device according to the invention. All described advantages and features of the device can be transferred analogously to the carrier and vice versa.

• Positionieren des Kleidungsstücks an einem Träger,
• Anordnen des Trägers in einer Vorrichtung mit integrierter Wäschebehandlungsfunktionalität und
• bereichsweises Aufspannen des Kleidungsstücks um zumindest einen ersten Teilbereich des Kleidungsstücks, insbesondere nur einen ersten Teilbereich, zu behandeln in einem ersten Behandlungsschritt. Alle für den Träger und/oder die Vorrichtung beschriebenen Merkmale und Vorteile lassen sich analog übertragen auf das Verfahren und andersrum.

Another aspect of the present invention is also a method of treating a garment comprising the steps

• Positioning the garment on a carrier,
• Placing the carrier in a device with integrated laundry treatment functionality and
• region-wise stretching of the garment around at least a first sub-region of the garment, in particular only a first sub-region treat in a first treatment step. All of the features and advantages described for the carrier and / or the device can be transferred analogously to the method and vice versa.

Further advantages and features result from the following description of preferred embodiments of the object according to the invention with reference to the attached figure. Individual features of the individual embodiment can be combined with one another in the context of the invention.

Fig. 1:

eine Vorrichtung mit integrierter Wäschebehandlungsfunktionalität gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung

Fig. 2

ein Kleidungsstück (oben) und einen Träger (unten) gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung

Fig. 3

eine Vorrichtung mit integrierter Wäschebehandlungsfunktionalität gemäß einer weiteren bevorzugt Ausführungsform

Fig. 4

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 3 während eines ersten Behandlungsschritts

Fig. 5

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 3 während eines zweiten Behandlungsschritts und

Fig.6

ein Flussdiagramm zur Illustration eines Verfahrens zur Wäschebehandlung gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

It shows:

Fig. 1:

a device with integrated laundry treatment functionality according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 2

a garment (top) and a carrier (bottom) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 3

a device with integrated laundry treatment functionality according to another preferred embodiment

Fig. 4

the device Fig. 3 during a first treatment step

Fig. 5

the device Fig. 3 during a second treatment step and

Fig. 6

a flowchart to illustrate a method for laundry treatment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 1 A device 1 with integrated laundry treatment functionality is illustrated. In particular, this is a piece of laundry treatment furniture or a laundry treatment cabinet. An essential component of such a laundry treatment cabinet is a housing 9, within which the garment 2 arranged therein is subjected to a treatment, for example, wrinkled, scented, scented and / or ironed. For this purpose, corresponding treatment devices are provided within the housing 9, which interact with the garment 2 during the treatment, for example nozzles are provided with which a detergent and / or fragrance is sprayed onto the garment 2 or a smoothing element is provided which is heatable and can be used to iron the garment 2. It is also conceivable that a door and / or flap is fastened in the housing 9 and can be opened for filling and / or for removing the garment 2.

In Figure 2 an example of a garment 2 is shown in the form of a shirt. The shirt has a first partial area 11 and a second partial area 12. The first section 11 is the right sleeve and the second section 12 is the left sleeve. Furthermore, a third partial area 13 is provided, which represents the central area of the shirt. In the lower section, a carrier 3 is provided for the garment 2, in particular in the form of a doll-like carrier structure which is adapted to the shape of the garment 2. Accordingly, the carrier 3 here has a first chamber 21, a second chamber 22 and a third chamber 23. The carrier 3 is designed like a bow and comprises a strut element 43 and a head element 42, with which a connection can be made at an interface 8 within the device 1. The interface 8 for the carrier 3 is preferably itself fastened to a rail 7 and comprises a further strut element 41 which has a corresponding receiving element 40 on the end facing the carrier 3.

In Figure 3 A device 1 with integrated laundry treatment functionality according to a second exemplary embodiment is shown. In the illustrated here For example, the carrier 3 is movably mounted on the rail 7, that is to say the carrier 3 can be displaced laterally by a translation movement T.

In the Figures 4 and 5 is the device 1 from the Figure 3 shown during a first treatment step and a second treatment step. In the first treatment step ( Figure 4 ) the carrier 3 is laterally displaced towards the first side S1 of the device 1 and the second chamber 22 of the carrier 3 is inflated. As a result, the first portion 11 of the garment 2 will be spanned in the first treatment step. At the same time, the first chamber 21 is empty and, accordingly, the first partial region 11 of the garment 2 will not be stretched out. Due to the orientation towards the first side S1, the second partial area 12 of the garment 2 can nevertheless be completely stretched and in the second treatment step ( Figure 5 ) treat accordingly. By separately or individually inflating the second chamber 22, it is advantageously possible to avoid the entire garment 2, in this case a shirt, being stretched out completely and corresponding space having to be made available for this. As soon as the first treatment step, namely the treatment of the first partial area 11 of the item of clothing 2 in the second side of the device 1, has ended, the carrier 3 is shifted towards the second side S2. This frees up space on the first side S1, which allows the second partial region 12 to be opened. For this purpose, the first chamber 21 is inflated in the second treatment step.

In Figure 6 A method of treating a garment 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. In particular, the method comprises positioning 100 of the garment 1 on a carrier 3, arranging 101 of the carrier 3 in a device 1 with integrated laundry treatment functionality, clamping 102 of a first subarea 11 of the garment, treating 103 of the first subarea 11 of the garment 2 in a first treatment step with subsequent return of the first partial region 11 to an unclamped state, a region-by-region Clamping 104 of the second partial area 12 of the clothing item 2 and treating 105 the second partial area 12 of the clothing item 2 with subsequent transfer of the second partial area 12 into an unclamped state and removing 106 of the clothing item 2 from the device 1 with integrated laundry treatment functionality.

Reference symbol list

1

contraption

2nd

clothing

3rd

carrier

7

rail

9

casing

11

first section

12

second section

13

third section

21st

first chamber

22

second chamber

40

Recording area

41

another strut element

42

Head element

43

Strut element

100

Positioning

101

Arrange

102

Clamping the first section

103

Treat the first section

104

Clamping the second section

105

Treat the second section

106

Remove

S1

first page

S2

second page

T

Translation movement

Claims (15)

Device (1) with integrated laundry treatment functionality, in particular a piece of laundry treatment furniture for domestic use, in order to subject a piece of clothing (2) to treatment in the operating state in the device (1), the device (1) comprising a carrier (3) for holding the item of clothing (2) in the device (1) and wherein the carrier (3) is configured such that a first section (11) of the item of clothing (2) is stretched for the treatment without a second section (12). The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1), in particular the carrier (3), is configured such that the first partial area (11) of the item of clothing (2) is stretched in a first treatment step and a second partial area (12 ) of the garment (2) is stretched in a second treatment step. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (3) is movably mounted in the device (1). The device (1) according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the device is configured such that the carrier (3) can be transferred from a first orientation in the first treatment step to a second orientation in the second treatment step. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first section (11) and / or the second section (12) can be mechanically and / or pneumatically clamped. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (3) is an inflatable first chamber (21) and / or a second inflatable Has chamber (22), the first chamber (21) being filled with a fluid in the first treatment step and / or the second chamber (22) being filled with the fluid in the second treatment step. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein in the first chamber (21) and / or second chamber (22) at least one strut for targeted alignment of the first portion (11) of the garment (2) in the first treatment step and / or in the second treatment step is provided. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (3) is made at least in regions of an air-permeable material. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a heating device and / or a cooling device for adjusting a temperature of the fluid to be introduced into the first chamber (21) and / or the second chamber (22). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (3) is replaceably attachable to an interface in the device (1). Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the device (1) is designed to pneumatically transfer the carrier (3) between the first orientation and the second orientation. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a plurality of carriers (3), the device (1) being configured for the individual and preferably step-by-step treatment of a plurality of items of clothing. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (1) is designed as a manikin. Carrier (3) for a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Method for treating a garment (2) comprising the steps: - positioning (100) the item of clothing (2) on a carrier (3), - Arranging (101) the carrier (3) in a device (1) with integrated laundry treatment functionality and - Clamping (102) of the garment (2) in regions in order to treat at least a first partial region (11) of the garment (2) in a first treatment step.

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