EP3739099B1 - Laundry care appliance with a controller and associated method for care of laundry - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance with a controller.

In a conventional laundry care appliance, the absorbency of the laundry placed in the laundry drum is normally not known to a controller of the laundry care appliance. In this case, in order to ensure effective laundry care of the laundry to be cared for, the laundry is usually washed in an oversaturated condition, so that the laundry is supplied with a larger quantity of washing liquid than the quantity of washing liquid which would be required for effective laundry care. As a result of the oversaturation of the laundry with washing liquid, the consumption of the laundry care substance increases and an increased amount of heating energy has to be used to heat up the larger amount of laundry care substance.

In the DE 10 2008 055 643 A1 a method for operating a washing machine is disclosed.

In the EP 2 348 151 A1 a method for operating a washing machine is disclosed.

In WO 2016/102011 A1 describes a method for washing laundry in a washing machine comprising a water supply phase, in which first a sequence of partial water supplies and then a step of supplying detergent takes place. The step of delivering detergent is not performed until the laundry is determined to be substantially saturated. The liquid submersion pump is activated during the wash delivery phase to improve the wetting of the laundry.

It is the object on which the invention is based to specify a laundry care appliance in which an advantageous saturation of the laundry with washing liquid is ensured during a laundry care process.

This object is solved by the objects with the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

According to a first aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a laundry care appliance with a tub for holding washing liquid, the tub having a drain opening and an inlet opening which are fluidically connected by a liquid line, a laundry drum for holding laundry, a washing liquid supply device for supplying Washing liquid in the tub, a pump, which is designed Washing liquid to be pumped out through the drain opening into the liquid line and the pumped-out washing liquid to be fed back to the tub through the inlet opening in order to wet the laundry in the laundry drum, a volume detection device for detecting a volume of washing liquid not bound to the laundry, and a controller for controlling the pump and the washing liquid supply device, wherein the controller is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device during a first period of time and to supply a first quantity of washing liquid to the tub, the controller being designed to activate the pump during the first period of time in order to pump the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line , wherein the volume detection device is designed to detect a first volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry, wherein the controller is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device during a further time period following the first time period, and to supply a further quantity of washing liquid to the tub, wherein the controller is designed to activate the pump during the further period of time in order to pump the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line, the volume detection device being designed to detect a further volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry, and the controller being designed to to deactivate the washing liquid supply device in the further period of time if the sum of the first volume and the further volume exceeds a volume limit value.

This achieves the technical advantage that the amount of washing liquid supplied can be increased slowly and in a controlled manner by the gradual supply of washing liquid during a plurality of successive periods of time until the desired optimal saturation value of the laundry is reached. Thus, oversaturation of the laundry with washing liquid is avoided and detergent consumption and heating energy consumption can be limited.

In this case, the additional time segment can in particular comprise a plurality of consecutive additional time segments.

The deactivation of the washing liquid supply device, which correlates with the end of the supply of washing liquid, is subject to the condition that the sum of the volumes of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry detected by the pump during the respective time periods exceeds a volume limit value.

As wash liquid is increasingly supplied to the laundry during the successive periods of time, the laundry becomes increasingly saturated with wash liquid. With increasing saturation of the laundry with washing liquid, the washing liquid absorption capacity of the laundry is reduced, so that an increasing proportion of washing liquid is not bound by the laundry and flows off into the tub. Thus, the non-laundry bound volumes of wash liquid increase during the successive time periods.

Thus, a correlation can be obtained between the increasing degree of saturation of the laundry and the increasing volume of liquid not bound to the laundry. As soon as the sum of the recorded volumes exceeds the volume limit value, the desired saturation of the laundry has been reached and the washing liquid supply device is deactivated.

The volume limit is determined in particular as a function of the desired saturation, in particular 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% saturation of the laundry. If, for example, only 50% saturation of the laundry is desired, the volume limit value can be halved, for example.

In particular, the volume limit value can be specified for the controller, for example by storing reference values which are defined, for example, depending on the type of laundry care device and/or depending on the laundry to be cared for.

In particular, the laundry care appliance has a program selection device for selecting a laundry care program from a plurality of laundry care programs, the volume limit value being determined as a function of the selected laundry care program.

In particular, the volume threshold may be determined as the threshold that a curve plotting the value 1-1/V _e versus time approaches, where V _e is the particular volume sensed by the volume sensing means during the particular time period. In this case, the washing liquid supply device in particular can be deactivated if the difference between the value 1-1/V _e and the limit value falls below a difference threshold value.

By precisely setting the saturation of the laundry to be cared for with washing liquid, a resource-saving and energy-reduced washing process can be ensured and, moreover, an optimal washing effect due to optimal wetting of the laundry can be made possible.

A laundry care device is understood to mean a device that is used for laundry care, such as a washing machine or a tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood to mean a household laundry care appliance. In other words, a laundry care device that is used as part of housekeeping and is used to treat laundry in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the controller is designed, if the sum of the first volume and the further volume falls below the volume limit value, to repeat the further period of time in order to again supply a further quantity of washing liquid to the tub, again a further volume that is not to the laundry to detect bound washing liquid and to deactivate the washing liquid supply device when the sum of the first volume, the further volume and the further volume detected again exceeds the volume limit value.

This achieves the technical advantage that the controller can incrementally control the supply of washing liquid to the tub until the sum of the volumes of the pumped washing liquid exceeds the volume limit value, which leads to a deactivation of the washing liquid supply device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the controller is designed to deactivate the pump during the first period of time in order to end pumping of the washing liquid through the liquid line when the detected first volume falls below a minimum volume value, and/or the controller is designed to deactivate the pump during the further time segment in order to end pumping of the washing liquid through the liquid line when the detected further volume falls below a minimum volume value.

This achieves the technical advantage that the end of the pumping process can be indicated to the controller when the volume falls below the minimum value. A drop in the detected volume below the minimum volume value indicates to the controller that there is a very small amount of washing liquid available for pumping around and the pumping process can therefore be ended.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a supply sensor which is designed to detect the amount of washing liquid supplied by the washing liquid supply device.

This achieves the technical advantage that the amount of washing liquid supplied during the respective time segment is available to the controller through the supply sensor.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a program selection device for selecting a laundry care program from a plurality of laundry care programs, each laundry care program being assigned a minimum quantity of washing liquid for wetting the laundry, the first quantity of washing liquid supplied during the first period of time being less than the minimum quantity of washing liquid .

This achieves the technical advantage that oversaturation of the laundry is prevented during the first period of time. The minimum amount of washing liquid assigned to the respective laundry care program is the minimum amount of washing liquid that can be used in order to effectively wet the laundry. It is thus ensured after the first period of time that the laundry is undersaturated, so that during the subsequent periods of time the degree of saturation can advantageously be increased and the desired degree of saturation can be approached.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a dispensing tray for receiving laundry care substance, with the washing liquid supply device being fluidically connected to the dispensing tray in order to supply laundry care substance received in the dispensing tray together with the supplied washing liquid to the tub, and with the washing liquid supplied during the first period of time first amount of washing liquid is sufficient to supply the laundry care substance received in the dispensing bowl completely to the tub.

This achieves the technical advantage that no laundry care substance remains in the dispensing bowl after the first period of time, so that an effective laundry care result can be ensured.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a drum drive for rotating the laundry drum, and the controller is designed to activate the drum drive while the washing liquid is being pumped through the liquid line in order to rotate the laundry drum at a speed, in particular at a contact speed, in particular between 100 rpm and 200 rpm to rotate to position the laundry on the laundry drum.

This achieves the technical advantage that particularly effective wetting of the laundry with washing liquid can be ensured by the rotation of the laundry drum during the pumping process. In particular, the laundry drum can be rotated at a system speed which is in particular between 100 rpm and 200 rpm. When the laundry drum rotates at the application speed, the laundry lies against the laundry drum, so that it can be ensured that the washing liquid that is pumped around wets the laundry in a particularly advantageous manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the volume detection device is designed to be on during the first time segment first volume of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid line by the pump in order to record the first volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry, and the volume recording device is designed to record a further volume of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid line by the pump during the further period of time To detect washing liquid in order to detect the additional volume of washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

This achieves the technical advantage that the volume detection device can detect the respective first or additional volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry directly during the pumping process in the first or additional time segment. In particular, the first volume of the pumped washing liquid corresponds to the first volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry. In particular, the additional volume of the pumped washing liquid corresponds to the additional volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the volume detection device includes a flow sensor arranged in the liquid line for detecting a volume flow of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid line, and/or the volume detection device includes a power detection element for detecting an electrical power value of the pump and/or the volume detection device includes a time detection element for detecting an activation period of the pump during the first period and/or during the further period. The activation time of the pump during the first time section or the further time section is in particular the time from the respective activation of the pump within the respective time section until the volume falls below the minimum value of the respective time section.

This achieves the technical advantage that the elements can ensure effective detection of the volume of the washing liquid by the volume detection device. If the volume detection device includes a flow sensor, the volume flow of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid line by the pump can advantageously be used to record the pumped volume of the washing liquid for specific time intervals, and thus the volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry can be recorded.

If the volume detection device includes a power detection element for detecting an electrical power value of the pump, the electrical power value detected by the power detection element can advantageously be correlated with the volume flow of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid line by the pump in order to carry out an advantageous volume detection, whereby as a function of time, in particular the detected activation time period, the volume pumped by the pump can be obtained, and thus the volume of washing liquid not bound to the laundry can be detected. The minimum volume value can advantageously be set in such a way that the volume flow can be assumed to be essentially constant. Therefore, the volume detection can also be determined solely from the activation period of the pump during a period of time by means of a relationship stored in the controller between the activation period and the volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry. This has the additional advantage that a power detection element could be dispensed with.

The elements of the volume detection device can also be advantageously combined with one another, as a result of which the accuracy of the volume detected can be increased.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a drum drive for rotating the laundry drum, the controller is designed to activate the drum drive after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line during the first time period in order to spin free washing liquid bound to the laundry and a spun amount of washing liquid, wherein the volume detection device is designed to detect a first volume of the washing liquid that is spun free, in order to detect the first volume of the washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry, that the controller is designed to switch off the drum drive after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line to activate during the further period of time in order to sling free washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a spun amount of washing liquid, wherein the volume detection device is designed, a further volume of to detect spun-free washing liquid in order to record the additional volume of washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

This achieves the technical advantage that, by detecting the volume of the washing liquid spun free, the respective volume of washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry can be determined in a particularly advantageous manner. After the washing liquid has been pumped around, the laundry drum is rotated and the washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry is spun free and collects in the tub. In particular, the first volume of the washing liquid spun free corresponds to the first volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry. In particular, the additional volume of the washing liquid spun free corresponds to the additional volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the volume detection device comprises a filling level sensor arranged in the tub, in particular in a lower region of the tub facing the drain opening, for detecting a filling level of the washing liquid in the tub.

This achieves the technical advantage that the volume of the washing liquid, in particular the washing liquid that has been thrown free, can be determined directly in the tub by means of a fill level sensor, in particular a pressure sensor, arranged in the tub for detecting a fill level of the washing liquid in the tub.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the controller is designed to determine a first ratio between the first amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub and the first volume of the washing liquid spun out during the first period of time, the controller is designed to determine a further ratio between the dem Suds container supplied further amount of washing liquid and the other volume of the washing liquid spun free, and the controller is designed to deactivate the washing liquid supply device after the further period of time if the sum of the first volume and the further volume exceeds a volume limit value and if the difference between the further ratio and the first ratio falls below a difference threshold value .

This achieves the technical advantage that the respective ratio between the supplied washing liquid quantity and the volume of the washing liquid spun free enables a more precise detection of the advantageous degree of saturation of the laundry than if only the respective volumes of the washing liquid spun free are compared with the volume limit value. Upon reaching the advantageous saturation, the sensed ratios converge such that the differences between the sensed ratios become progressively smaller during successive time periods. A difference threshold value can be determined here, which defines a minimum limit below which an advantageous degree of saturation can be assumed due to the differences in the ratios, and the controller ends the supply of washing liquid.

According to a second aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for caring for laundry in a laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance having a tub for holding washing liquid, the tub having a drain opening and an inlet opening which are fluidically connected by a liquid line, wherein the laundry care appliance has a laundry drum for receiving laundry, a washing liquid feed device for feeding washing liquid into the tub, a pump which is designed to pump off washing liquid through the drain opening into the liquid line and to feed the pumped-off washing liquid back through the inlet opening to the tub to wash the laundry in to wet the laundry drum, a volume detection device for detecting a volume of washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry, and a controller for controlling the pump and the washing liquid supply device, the method comprising the following steps: activating the washing liquid supply device by the controller during a first period of time, to supply a first quantity of washing liquid to the tub, Activation of the pump by the controller during the first period of time in order to circulate the washing liquid supplied through the liquid line, detection of a first volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry by the volume detection device, activation of the washing liquid supply device by the controller during a further period following the first period of time period of time in order to supply a further quantity of washing liquid to the tub, activation of the pump by the controller during the further period of time in order to pump around the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line, detection of a further volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry by the volume detection device, deactivation of the washing liquid supply device by the Control after the further period of time when the sum of the first volume and the further volume exceeds a volume limit.

This achieves the technical advantage that an advantageous degree of saturation of the laundry to be cared for with washing liquid can be achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, if the sum of the first volume and the further volume falls below the volume limit value, the further period of time is repeated by the controller in order to again supply a further quantity of washing liquid to the tub, again a further volume of the not bound to the laundry To detect washing liquid, and to disable the washing liquid supply device when the sum of the first volume, the additional volume, and the re-detected additional volume exceeds a volume limit.

This achieves the technical advantage that the additional time period can be repeated by the controller until the sum of the detected volumes exceeds the volume limit value, so that an approximation to the advantageous saturation of the laundry can be achieved within the framework of an iterative process.

In an advantageous embodiment, the detection of the first volume of the washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry includes the detection of the first volume of washing liquid pumped through the liquid line by the pump the volume detection device, and the detection of the additional volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry includes the detection of the additional volume of washing liquid pumped through the liquid line by the pump by the volume detection device.

This achieves the technical advantage that, by detecting the volume of the pumped washing liquid, the volume of the washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry can be recorded in a particularly advantageous manner.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a drum drive for rotating the laundry drum, with the method comprising the following steps, activation of the drum drive by the controller after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line during the first time period in order to spin free washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a spun-free quantity of washing liquid, detecting a first volume of the spun-free washing liquid by the volume detection device in order to detect the first volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry, activating the drum drive by the controller after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line during the further Period of time in order to spin free washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a spun amount of washing liquid, detecting a further volume of the washing liquid spun free by the volume detection device in order to detect the further volume of washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

This achieves the technical advantage that by detecting the volume of the washing liquid that has been spun free, the volume of the washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry can be recorded in a particularly advantageous manner.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einer Steuerung;

Fig. 3

eine graphische Darstellung eines Wäschepflegevorgangs gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 4

eine graphische Darstellung eines Wäschepflegevorgangs gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 5

eine graphische Darstellung eines Wäschepflegevorgangs gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 6

eine graphische Darstellung von Verhältnissen von zugeführte Waschflüssigkeit und freigeschleuderter Waschflüssigkeit in einem Wäschepflegevorgang; und

Fig. 7

eine schematische Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Pflegen von Wäsche in einem Wäschepflegegerät.

Show it:

1

a schematic view of a laundry care appliance;

2

a schematic view of a laundry care appliance with a controller;

3

a graphical representation of a laundry care process according to a first embodiment;

4

a graphic representation of a laundry care process according to a second embodiment;

figure 5

a graphical representation of a laundry care process according to a third embodiment;

6

a graphical representation of ratios of supplied washing liquid and spun-free washing liquid in a laundry care process; and

7

a schematic representation of a method for caring for laundry in a laundry care appliance.

1 12 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 includes a dispensing tray 101 into which detergent or other liquid substances can be filled. The laundry care appliance 100 includes a door 103 for loading the laundry care appliance 100 with laundry.

2 shows a schematic view of a laundry care appliance with a controller. The laundry care appliance 100 has a tub 105 for holding washing liquid, and has a laundry drum 107 for holding laundry. The laundry drum 107 has a bottom side 109 of the drum. The tub 105 has a drain opening 111 . The laundry care appliance 100 has an inlet opening 113 . The drain opening 111 is fluidically connected to the inlet opening 113 by a liquid line 115 , a pump 117 for pumping washing liquid through the liquid line 115 being arranged in the liquid line 115 . The pump 117 discharges washing liquid through the drain port 111 the tub 105 during an in 2 Not shown pumping process in the liquid line 115 and pumped out the washing liquid through the liquid line 115 and through the inlet opening 113 to the tub 105 and the laundry drum 107 out again. As a result, the fresh washing liquid can be effectively pumped through the liquid line 115 during a laundry care process and can be fed back to the laundry in the laundry drum 107 .

The laundry care appliance 100 also includes a controller 119 which is connected to the pump 117 by a first control connection 121 and which is connected to a drum drive 123 for rotating the laundry drum 107 by a second control connection 125 .

The controller 119 is also connected via a third control connection 127 to a washing liquid supply device 129 for supplying washing liquid into the tub 105 , the washing liquid supply device 129 being connected to the tub 105 by a supply line 131 .

The controller 119 is also connected by a fourth control connection 133 to a volume detection device 135 for detecting a volume of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

The volume detection device 135 can, in particular, as in 2 shown, include a flow sensor arranged in the liquid line 115 for detecting a volume flow of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid line 115 .

The volume detection device 135 can in particular include a fill level sensor arranged in the tub 105, in particular in a lower region of the tub 105 facing the drain opening 111, for detecting a fill level of the washing liquid in the tub 105.

The volume detection device 135 can, in particular, be a power detection element for detecting an electrical power value of the pump 117 include. In this case, the line gripping element is arranged in particular in the pump 117 or the line gripping element is connected to the pump 117 .

The laundry care appliance 100 also includes an outlet line 128 which is fluidically connected to the liquid line 115 . The pump 117 is formed during an in 2 Not shown pumping out washing liquid through the drain opening 111 from the tub 105, through the liquid line 115 and through the outlet line 128 from the laundry care appliance 100 to be pumped.

3 shows a graphic representation of a laundry care process according to a first embodiment. 3 shows a chronological representation of a washing liquid quantity supplied (see illustration a), of a washing liquid quantity pumped by a pump 117 of the pump-around system (see illustration b) and a value 1-1/V _e , where V _{e is} that determined by the volume detection device 135 during the respective time segment 147 -1, 147-2 is the respective volume recorded (see representation c), all of which are plotted along the ordinate axis 137 as a function of time, which is indicated along the abscissa axis 139.

The in the representation (a) of 3 The first curve 141 shown shows the course over time of the amount of washing liquid supplied to a tub 105 by a washing liquid supply device 129 during various successive time segments 147-1, 147-2. The in the illustration (b) of 3 The second curve 143 shown shows the course over time of the volumes 157-1, 157-2 of washing liquid pumped through a liquid line 115 by a pump 117 during the various successive time periods 147-1, 147-2. The in the representation (c) of 3 The third curve 145 shown shows the time course of the value 1-1/V _e .

Depending on the laundry load, in particular an average amount of washing liquid 151 is defined in order to ensure effective wetting of the laundry with washing liquid, and in particular a minimum amount of washing liquid 153, which is just sufficient for wetting the laundry, and in particular a maximum amount of washing liquid 155.

During the first time segment 147 - 1 , a controller 119 of the laundry care appliance 100 activates the washing liquid supply device 129 in order to supply a first washing liquid quantity 149 - 1 to the tub 105 .

In particular, the first quantity of washing liquid 149-1 is less than the minimum quantity of washing liquid 153. In particular, the first quantity of washing liquid 149-1 is sufficient to completely take up the laundry care substance received in a dispensing bowl 101 of the laundry care appliance 100 and to feed it to the tub 105.

In particular, the laundry care appliance 100 has a feed sensor, in particular a pressure limiter or a flow sensor, which is designed to detect the washing liquid quantity 149 - 1 , 149 - 2 fed to the tub 105 .

During the first time period 147-1, the controller 119 activates a pump 117 in order to circulate the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line 115 and to wet the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum 107 with the circulated washing liquid. A volume detection device 135 detects a first volume 157 - 1 of the circulated washing liquid.

During the pumping process, the controller 119 activates in particular the drum drive in order to operate the laundry drum 107 during the pumping process at a contact speed for placing the laundry on the laundry drum 107. This advantageously ensures that the washing liquid pumped around does not run off between the items of laundry without wetting them.

During a further period of time 147-2 following the first period of time 147-1, the controller 119 again activates the washing liquid supply device 129 in order to supply a further quantity of washing liquid 149-2 to the tub 105. During the further time segment 147-2, the pump 117 is activated by the controller 119 in order to circulate the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line 115 and to wet the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum 107 with the circulated washing liquid. here a further volume 157 - 2 of the pumped washing liquid is detected by the volume detection device 135 .

How from the 3 As can be seen, the washing process comprises a plurality of subsequent further time segments 147-2, during which further quantities of washing liquid 149-2 are supplied and further volumes 157-2 of the washing liquid are recorded.

As can be seen from the representation (c) of 3 As can be seen, an increasing saturation of the laundry in the laundry drum 107 with washing liquid is ensured during the further time segments 147-2 as washing liquid is progressively supplied and the washing liquid is pumped around. This is due to the fact that dry laundry absorbs washing liquid much more efficiently than already wetted laundry.

The value 1-1/V _e plotted along the ordinate axis 137 approaches a limit value 150 as time progresses, with V _e corresponding to the volume 157-1, 157-2 of the pumped washing liquid detected by the controller. Thus, by comparing the value 1-1/V _e with the limit value 150, the controller 119 can define an effective termination criterion for the supply of washing liquid. In this case, in particular the washing liquid supply device 129 can be deactivated if the difference between the value 1−1/V _e and the limit value 150 falls below a difference threshold value.

Since one in the representation (c) of 3 If the saturation curve shown is similar for different loads of laundry and different textile types of laundry, a corresponding saturation determination can be applied generically.

Alternatively, the advantageous saturation of the laundry can also be determined if the sum of the volumes 157-1, 157-2 of the circulated washing liquid detected by the volume detection device 135 is an in 3 not shown volume limit exceeds.

In order to deactivate the washing liquid supply device 129 when the laundry is maximally saturated with washing liquid, the controller 119 detects this the volume 157-1, 157-2 of the pumped washing liquid detected by the volume detection device 135.

If the sum of the first volume 157 - 1 and the additional volume 157 - 2 of the pumped washing liquid exceeds a volume limit, the controller 119 deactivates the washing liquid supply device 129 so that no further washing liquid is supplied to the tub 105 .

4 shows a graphic representation of a laundry care process according to a second embodiment.

The representation (a) of 4 shows a time representation of volumes 157-1, 157-2, detected by a volume detection device 135, of washing liquid pumped by a pump 117, which is pumped along the ordinate axis 137 as a function of a washing liquid quantity 149-1, 149-2 supplied by the washing liquid supply device 129, which along the abscissa axis 139 are plotted.

The representation (b) of 4 shows the value 1 - 1/V _e along the ordinate axis 137, where V _e corresponds to the volumes 157-1, 157-2 of the pumped washing liquid measured by the volume detection device 135, and along the abscissa axis 139 that through the washing liquid supply device 129 during the respective time periods 147-1, 147-2 supplied amounts of washing liquid 149-1, 149-2.

Along the abscissa axis 139 is in the representations (a) and (b) of 4 the first wash liquid quantity 149-1 supplied during the first time segment 147-1 and the further wash liquid quantities 149-2 supplied during the subsequent further time segments 147-2 are shown.

The representations (a) and (b) of the 4 The curves shown show different measurements for different laundry loads.

As in the representation (a) of 4 is shown, the volumes 157-1, 157-2 of the pumped pumped by the volume detection device 135 increase Washing liquid during successive periods of time 147-1, 147-2 until the sum of the first volume 157-1 recorded during the first period of time 147-1 and the further volumes 157-2 recorded during the further periods of time 147-2 have a value in the representation ( Vein 4 exceed volume limit 159 shown only schematically.

As soon as the volume limit value 159 is exceeded, the desired degree of saturation of the laundry with washing liquid is reached and the controller 119 deactivates the washing liquid supply device 129 so that no additional washing liquid is supplied. The volume limit value 159 can be selected differently depending on the desired degree of saturation of the laundry, e.g. 50%, 75%, 85% or 100%.

Since in the illustration (b) the 4 the value 1−1/V _e is plotted along the ordinate axis 137, with V _e corresponding to the detected pumped volume 157-1, 157-2, in representation (b) the 4 with increasing volumes 157-1, 157-2, no volume limit value 159 is exceeded, but rather the curves approach a limit value 150.

Here, the in the representations (a) and (b) of figure 4 The majority of curves shown are different measurements with differently composed cotton batches weighing 4 kg, which were tested in an 8 kg washing machine. During the first four time segments 147-1, 147-2, the recorded volumes 157 of washing liquid not bound to the laundry are very close together, but they scatter more, so that a mean value curve in particular offers an effective simplification.

figure 5 FIG. 12 shows a graphic representation of a laundry care process according to a fourth embodiment.

figure 5 shows a time representation of volumes 157, detected by a volume detection device 135, of washing liquid pumped around by a pump 117, which is indicated along the ordinate axis 137 as a function of a washing liquid quantity 149-1, 149-2 supplied by the washing liquid supply device 129, which is indicated along the abscissa axis 139 , are applied.

In the embodiment according to the figure 5 however, the volume 157-1, 157-2 detected by the volume detection device 135 corresponds to the spun-free volume of the washing liquid after pumping over.

The controller 119 activates the drum drive 123 during the respective time periods 147-1, 147-2 after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line 115 in order to sling free washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a spun amount of washing liquid. The volume detection device 135 detects the respective volume 157-1, 157-2 of the washing liquid spun free.

Analogous to the representations according to 4 is also in the figure 5 shown that the volumes 157-1, 157-2 of the spun-free washing liquid detected by the volume detection device 135 increase with the continuous time periods 149-1, 149-2 until the sum of the first volume 157-1 detected during the first time period 147-1 and the further volumes 157-2 detected during the further time segments 147-2 an in figure 5 exceed the volume limit value 159 shown only schematically in order to specify the termination criterion for a supply of washing liquid into the tub 105 to the controller 119 .

6 shows a graphic representation of the ratios of washing liquid supplied and washing liquid spun free in a laundry care process.

The 6 shows a representation of volumes 157-1, 157-2 of spun-free washing liquid detected by a volume detection device 135, which are indicated along the ordinate axis 137 as a function of a washing liquid quantity 149-1, 149-2 supplied by the washing liquid supply device 129, which is indicated along the abscissa axis 139 is, are applied.

The ratios between freely spun washing liquid and supplied washing liquid shown in the first, second and third textile curves 161, 163, 165 for a first, second and third textile type each show a constant progression of the respective Textile curves 161, 163, 165. With a known type of textile, the degree of saturation of the type of textile can thus be determined by the ratio between the washing liquid spun free and the washing liquid supplied.

7 shows a schematic representation of a method for caring for laundry in a laundry care appliance.

The method 200 includes, as a first method step, the activation 201 of the washing liquid supply device 129 by the controller 119 during a first time segment 147 - 1 in order to supply a first washing liquid quantity 149 - 1 to the tub 105 .

The method 200 includes, as a second method step, the activation 203 of the pump 117 by the controller 119 during the first time segment 147 - 1 in order to pump the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line 115 .

As an optional third method step, the method 200 includes the activation 205 of the drum drive 123 by the controller 119 after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line 115 during the first time period 147-1 in order to sling free washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a spun amount of washing liquid .

As a fourth method step, the method 200 comprises the detection 207 of a first volume 157-1 of the washing liquid that is not bound to the laundry by the volume detection device 135.

The method 200 includes, as a fifth method step, the activation 209 of the washing liquid supply device 129 by the controller 119 during a further time segment 147 - 2 in order to supply a further quantity of washing liquid 149 - 2 to the tub 105 .

As a sixth method step, the method 200 includes the activation 211 of the pump 117 by the controller 119 during the further time segment 147 - 2 in order to pump the supplied washing liquid through the liquid line 115 .

As an optional seventh method step, the method 200 includes the activation 213 of the drum drive 123 by the controller 119 after the washing liquid has been pumped through the liquid line 115 during the further time segment 147-2 in order to sling free washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a spun amount of washing liquid .

As an eighth method step, the method 200 comprises the detection 215 of a further volume 157-2 of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry by the volume detection device 135.

As a ninth step, the method 200 includes the deactivation 217 of the washing liquid supply device 129 by the controller 119 after the further time segment 147-2 if the sum of the first volume 157-1 and the further volume 157-2 exceeds a volume limit value 159.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the object according to the invention in order to realize their advantageous effects at the same time.

The scope of protection of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures.

Reference List

100

laundry care device

101

dispenser bowl

103

door

105

tub

107

laundry drum

109

drum bottom

111

drain hole

113

intake port

115

liquid line

117

pump

119

steering

121

First control connection

123

drum drive

125

Second control connection

127

Third control connection

128

outlet line

129

washing liquid supply device

131

supply line

133

Fourth control connection

135

volume detection device

137

ordinate axis

139

abscissa axis

141

First curve

143

Second curve

145

Third curve

147-1

First period

147-2

Another period

149-1

First amount of washing liquid

149-2

Additional amount of washer fluid

150

limit

151

Average amount of washer fluid

153

Minimum amount of washer fluid

155

Maximum amount of washer fluid

157-1

First volume of washing liquid

157-2

Additional volume of washing liquid

159

volume limit

161

First textile curve

163

Second textile curve

165

Third textile curve

200

Method of caring for laundry

201

First method step: activation of the washing liquid supply device

203

Second step: activating the pump

205

Optional third step: activation of the drum drive

207

Fourth method step: detection of a first volume

209

Fifth method step: activation of the washing liquid supply device

211

Sixth method step: activation of the pump

213

Optional seventh method step: activation of the drum drive

215

Eighth method step: acquisition of a further volume

217

Ninth method step: deactivation of the washing liquid supply device

Claims (15)

1. Laundry care appliance (100) with an outer tub (105) for receiving washing liquid, wherein the outer tub (105) has an outlet opening (111) and an inlet opening (113), which are fluidically connected by means of a liquid pipe (115), a laundry drum (107) for receiving laundry, a washing liquid supply facility (129) for supplying washing liquid into the outer tub (105), a pump (117) which is embodied to drain washing liquid through the outlet opening (111) into the liquid pipe (115) and to supply the drained washing liquid through the inlet opening (113) back to the outer tub (105) in order to wet the laundry in the laundry drum (107), a volume recording facility (135) for recording a volume (157-1, 157-2) of washing liquid not bound to the laundry and a controller (119) for controlling the pump (117) and the washing liquid supply facility (129), characterised in that

   the controller (119) is embodied to activate the washing liquid supply facility (129) during a first time segment (147-1) and to supply a first quantity of washing liquid (149-1) to the outer tub (105), that

   the controller (119) is embodied to activate the pump (117) during the first time segment (147-1) in order to recirculate the supplied washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115), wherein the volume recording facility (135) is embodied to record a first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry during the first time segment (147-1), that

   the controller (119) is embodied to activate the washing liquid supply facility (129) during a further time segment (147-2) which follows the first time segment (147-1) and to supply a further quantity of washing liquid (149-2) to the outer tub (105), that

   the controller (119) is embodied to activate the pump (117) during the further time segment (147-2) in order to recirculate the supplied washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115), wherein the volume recording facility (135) is embodied to record a further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry during the further time segment (147-2), and that

   the controller (119) is embodied to deactivate the washing liquid supply facility (129) after the further time segment (147-2) when the sum of the first volume (157-1) and the further volume (157-2) exceeds a volume limit value (159).
2. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the controller (119) is embodied, when the sum of the first volume (157-1) and the further volume (157-2) does not reach the volume limit value (159), to repeat the further time segment (147-2) in order to supply a further quantity of washing liquid (149-2) back to the outer tub (105), to record a further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry again, and to deactivate the washing liquid supply facility (129) when the sum of the first volume (157-1), the further volume (157-2) and the further volume (157-2) recorded again exceeds the volume limit value (159).
3. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the controller (119) is embodied to deactivate the pump (117) during the first time segment (147-1) in order to terminate the recirculation of the washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115) when the recorded first volume (157-1) does not reach a volume minimal value and/or that the controller (119) is embodied to deactivate the pump (117) during the further time segment (147-2) in order to terminate the recirculation of the washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115) when the recorded further volume (157-2) does not reach a volume minimal value.
4. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a supply sensor, which is embodied to record the quantity of washing liquid (149-1, 149-2) supplied through the washing liquid supply facility (129).
5. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a program selection facility for selecting a laundry care program from a plurality of laundry care programs, wherein a minimal quantity of washing liquid (153) for wetting the laundry is assigned to each laundry care program, wherein the first quantity of washing liquid (149-1) supplied during the first time segment (147-1) is less than the minimal quantity of washing liquid (153).
6. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a drum drive (123) for rotating the laundry drum (107) and that the controller (119) is embodied to activate the drum drive (123) during the recirculation of the washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115), in order to rotate the laundry drum (107) with a rotational speed, in particular with a system rotational speed, in particular between 100 rpm and 200 rpm, in order to apply the laundry to the laundry drum (107).
7. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the volume recording facility (135) is embodied to record a first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) by the pump during the first time segment (147-1) in order to record the first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry, and that the volume recording facility (135) is embodied to record a further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) by the pump (117) during the further time segment (147-2) in order to record the further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry.
8. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the volume recording facility (135) comprises a flowrate sensor arranged in the liquid pipe (115) for recording a volume flow of the washing liquid pumped through the liquid pipe (115) and/or that

   the volume recording facility (135) comprises a performance recording element for recording an electrical performance value of the pump (117) and/or that

   the volume recording facility (135) comprises a time recording element for recording an activation duration of the pump (117) during the first time segment (147-1) and/or during the further time segment (147-2).
9. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6 and 8, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a or the drum drive (123) for rotating the laundry drum (107),

   that the controller (119) is embodied to activate the drum drive (123) after the washing liquid has been recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) during the first time segment (147-1) in order to freely spin washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a freely spun quantity of washing liquid,
   wherein the volume recording facility (135) is embodied to record a first volume (157-1) of the freely spun washing liquid, in order to record the first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry,

   the controller (119) is embodied to activate the drum drive (123) after the washing liquid has been recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) during the further time segment (147-2) in order to freely spin washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a freely spun quantity of washing liquid, wherein the volume recording facility (135) is embodied to record a further volume (157-2) of the freely spun washing liquid in order to record the further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry.
10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the volume recording facility (135) comprises a fill level sensor arranged in the outer tub (105), in particular in a lower region of the outer tub (105) facing the outlet opening (111), for recording a fill level of the washing liquid located in the outer tub (105).
11. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 9 or 10 in conjunction with claim 9, characterised in that the controller (119) is embodied to determine a first ratio between the first quantity of washing liquid (149-1) supplied to the outer tub (105) and the first volume (157-1) of the freely spun washing liquid during the first time segment (147-1), that

    the controller (119) is embodied to determine a further ratio between the further quantity of washing liquid (149-2) supplied to the outer tub (105) and the further volume (157-2) of the freely spun washing liquid during the further time segment (147-2), and that

    the controller (119) is embodied to deactivate the washing liquid supply facility (129) after the further time segment (147-2) when the sum of the first volume (157-1) and the further volume (157-2) exceeds a volume limit value (159) and when the difference between the further ratio and the first ratio does not reach a difference threshold value.
12. Method (200) for caring for laundry in a laundry care appliance (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that the method (200) comprises the following steps,

    activating (201) the washing liquid supply facilty (129) by means of the controller (119) during a first time segment (147-1) in order to supply a first quantity of washing liquid (149-1) to the outer tub (105),

    activating (203) the pump (117) by means of the controller (119) during the first time segment (147-1) in order to recirculate the supplied washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115),

    recording (207) a first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry by means of the volume recording facility (135),

    activating (209) the washing liquid supply facility (129) by means of the controller (119) during a further time segment (147-2) which follows the first time segment (147-1) in order to supply a further quantity of washing liquid (149-2) to the outer tub (105),

    activating (211) the pump (117) by means of the controller (119) during the further time segment (147-2) in order to recirculate the supplied washing liquid through the liquid pipe (115),

    recording (215) a further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry by means of the volume recording facility (135),

    deactivating (217) the washing liquid supply facility (129) by means of the controller (119) after the further time segment (147-2) when the sum of the first volume (157-1) and the further volume (157-2) exceeds a volume limit value (159).
13. Method (200) according to claim 12, characterised in that when the sum of the first volume (157-1) and the further volume (157-2) does not reach the volume limit value (159), the further time segment (147-2) is repeated by the controller (119) in order to supply a further quantity of washing liquid (149-2) to the outer tub (105) again, to record a further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry again and to deactivate the washing liquid supply facility (129) when the sum of the first volume (157-1), the further volume (157-2) and the rerecorded further volume (157-2) exceeds a volume limit value (159).
14. Method (200) according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the recording (207) of the first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry comprises the recording of the first volume (157-1) of washing liquid recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) by the pump (117) by means of the volume recording facility (135) and that the recording (215) of the further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry comprises the recording of the further volume (157-2) of washing liquid recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) by the pump (117) by means of the volume recording facility (135).
15. Method (200) according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprise a drum drive (123) for rotating the laundry drum (107), that the method (200) comprises the following steps,

    activating (205) the drum drive (123) by means of the controller (119) after the washing liquid has been recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) during the first time segment (147-1) in order to freely spin washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a freely spun quantity of washing liquid,

    recording (207) a first volume (157-1) of the freely spun washing liquid by means of the volume recording facility (135), in order to record the first volume (157-1) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry,

    activating (213) the drum drive (123) by means of the controller (119) after the washing liquid has been recirculated through the liquid pipe (115) during the further time segment (147-2) in order to freely spin washing liquid bound to the laundry and to obtain a freely spun quantity of washing liquid,

    recording (215) a further volume (157-2) of the freely spun washing liquid by means of the volume recording facility (135), in order to record the further volume (157-2) of the washing liquid not bound to the laundry.

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