EP3816336B1 - Laundry care device with a filter element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with a filter element.

Certain device variants of conventional laundry care devices have fluid-carrying lines through which washing liquid is passed to care for the laundry. During the operation of conventional laundry care devices, contaminants such as lint, dirt or dust are absorbed into the washing liquid and carried along by the washing liquid through the fluid-carrying lines. In order to filter such impurities from the washing liquid, certain device variants of conventional laundry care devices have filter elements through which the washing liquid flows in order to filter the washing liquid.

Since such filter elements can become clogged due to an increasing accumulation of impurities during operation of the laundry care device, such filter elements must be cleaned regularly.

In the DE 10 2016 004 326 A1 a fiber filter for separating textile fibers from washing machine wastewater is disclosed.

In the JP 2014 0686855 a tumble dryer with a filter is disclosed.

The subsequently published disclosure document EP 3 674 477 A1 discloses a laundry treatment device with a lint trap.

The disclosure document WO 2019/081013 A1 discloses a washing machine with a lint filter.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a laundry care device with a filter element in which a reduction in filter performance due to blockages can be prevented.

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

According to one aspect, the object according to the invention is achieved by a laundry care appliance with a filter element for filtering washing liquid, wherein the filter element has a filter housing which at least partially delimits a filter interior of the filter element, wherein the filter element has a filter membrane for filtering washing liquid, which is attached to the filter housing is arranged, wherein the filter element has a filter inlet opening for supplying washing liquid into the filter interior, the filter element being designed to direct washing liquid flowing into the filter interior through the filter inlet opening through the filter membrane in order to remove impurities in the washing liquid, the filter element being a displaceable Has cleaning element, which is arranged in the filter interior and rests on the filter membrane, wherein the displaceable cleaning element is displaced along a displacement direction within the filter interior in order to displace contaminants attached to the filter membrane along the displacement direction on the filter membrane in order to move the contaminants at least in sections from the Filter membrane to remove and to compress the contaminants, and wherein the filter element has a receiving area which is designed to receive the compressed contaminants.

This achieves the technical advantage that the displaceable cleaning element of the filter element not only ensures effective removal of contaminants from the filter membrane, but at the same time also enables the compressed contaminants to be advantageously absorbed in the receiving area of the filter element.

This makes it possible to prevent the filter membrane from clogging with impurities during operation of the filter element, so that time-consuming and costly manual cleaning of the filter element or even replacement of the filter element is prevented.

In particular, an effective self-regulation of the cleaning effect of the displaceable cleaning element can be ensured, whereby a greatly reduced tendency to clogging, for example in comparison to conventionally used turbines such as in the DE 10 2016 004 326 A1 , is achieved.

The displaceable cleaning element can in particular be displaced in the filter interior along a displacement direction that extends axially from the filter inlet opening.

Alternatively, the displaceable cleaning element can also be designed in particular as a rotatable cleaning element, which can be displaced in particular along a displacement direction in the filter interior that extends along an arc of a circle around a point of rotation of the rotatable cleaning element.

Thus, a simple and effective filter element with an automated, displaceable cleaning element is provided, which can advantageously be used in a large number of fluid lines of a laundry care device, such as a dispenser bowl or in a tub drain.

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

In an advantageous embodiment, the receiving area comprises a region of the filter interior, and/or the receiving region comprises a region of the displaceable cleaning element, in particular a recess in the displaceable cleaning element, and/or the receiving region comprises a region of the filter housing, in particular a contaminant depot in the filter housing.

This achieves the technical advantage that by arranging the receiving area in the filter interior, and/or in the filter housing and/or in the displaceable cleaning element, it can be effectively ensured that the Impurities removed and compressed from the filter membrane by the movable cleaning element cannot accumulate on the filter membrane again. In particular, the retention of contaminants in the receiving area can be improved by providing elements that allow the particles to penetrate easily but make it difficult for them to escape, such as flaps, barbs, or rod-shaped elastic non-return valves.

In an advantageous embodiment, the filter housing has a cylindrical shape or a polygonal shape, and the cylindrical surface or polygonal surface of the filter housing comprises the filter membrane, wherein the washing liquid flows radially from the filter interior, in particular from the filter interior into an outer space of the filter element, through the filter membrane to remove contaminants in the washing liquid.

This achieves the technical advantage that by forming the cylinder surface or polygonal surface of the filter housing as a filter membrane, a particularly large area of the filter element can be used to filter the contaminants, so that a high filter performance of the filter element can be ensured.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care device has a receiving element which is designed to receive the filter element and washing liquid flowing through the filter membrane of the filter element, the receiving element in particular a dispensing bowl of the laundry care appliance, and/or a shell housing of the laundry care appliance surrounding the dispensing tray, and/or a liquid line, which is fluidly connected in particular to an inlet and/or outlet of a tub of the laundry care appliance.

This achieves the technical advantage that the filter element can be installed in an already existing component of the laundry care appliance in a structurally simple manner, so that a simplified filter design can be ensured. In addition to the effective structural accommodation of the filter element, the receiving element also ensures that washing liquid emerging from the filter element during filtration is advantageously absorbed or can be collected, and the collected washing liquid can then be removed again from the receiving element.

In an advantageous embodiment, the filter element has a further filter inlet opening for supplying washing liquid into the filter interior, the further filter inlet opening being arranged in particular on a side of the filter housing facing away from the filter inlet opening.

This achieves the technical advantage that the washing liquid can be supplied to the filter interior from different sides of the filter housing, through the filter inlet opening and through the further filter inlet opening. The displaceable cleaning element can thus be supplied with washing liquid and relocated, in particular from both sides, so that a particularly effective removal of contaminants can be ensured.

In an advantageous embodiment, the displaceable cleaning element is designed to be displaced within the filter interior by washing liquid which flows into the filter interior through the at least one filter inlet opening, in particular exclusively by washing liquid, and/or the displaceable cleaning element is moved along the displacement direction by a drive of the laundry care device relocated.

This achieves the technical advantage that a displacement of the displaceable cleaning element can be effected either by the flow pressure of the washing liquid flowing into the filter interior, and/or that a displacement of the displaceable cleaning element can be effected by a drive of the laundry care device directly driving the displaceable cleaning element drives. In this case, the drive can be connected to the displaceable cleaning element in particular by a drive shaft, and the drive is in particular designed to displace the displaceable cleaning element along the at least one displacement direction.

In an advantageous embodiment, the displaceable cleaning element is shaped as a disk, as a cylinder or as a doctor flap and/or has this displaceable cleaning element has a contact area, in particular an elastically deformable contact lip, which rests on the filter membrane, in particular rests non-positively and / or positively.

This achieves the technical advantage that by designing the displaceable cleaning element as a disk, as a cylinder or as a doctor flap, a geometry that is advantageously adapted to the shape of the filter housing can be obtained. The contact area, in particular the elastically deformable contact lip, rests on the filter membrane, in particular in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner, so that when the displaceable cleaning element is displaced, contaminants lying on the filter membrane can be effectively displaced, in particular scraped off, through the contact area.

In an advantageous embodiment, the filter element has a guide element, in particular a guide rod and/or a guide sleeve, wherein the displaceable cleaning element is slidably mounted on the guide element in order to slidably displace the displaceable cleaning element along the displacement direction, in particular until the displaceable cleaning element abuts on a stop of the filter element to be moved.

This achieves the technical advantage that the guide element can prevent the displaceable cleaning element from tilting during the displacement movement.

In an advantageous embodiment, the displaceable cleaning element is arranged in a first displacement position, in particular at the filter inlet opening, wherein the displaceable cleaning element is transferred from the first displacement position into a second displacement position by a displacement along the displacement direction, the second displacement position being in one of the first displacement position The area of the filter interior facing away is arranged, in particular at the further filter inlet opening.

This achieves the technical advantage that the displaceable cleaning element, in particular due to the inflow of washing liquid from the filter inlet opening, can be relocated from the first displacement position to the second displacement position.

In an advantageous embodiment, the displaceable cleaning element is displaced along a further displacement direction from the second displacement position into the first displacement position, the further displacement direction extending opposite to the displacement direction.

This achieves the technical advantage that the displaceable cleaning element can be displaced back from the second displacement position back into the first displacement position, in particular by the inflow of washing liquid from the further filter inlet opening.

In an advantageous embodiment, the direction of displacement and/or the further direction of displacement extends between the filter inlet opening and a side of the filter housing facing away from the filter inlet opening, or the direction of displacement and/or the further direction of displacement extends along an arc of a circle around a point of rotation of a rotatable cleaning element.

This achieves the technical advantage that, depending on the geometry of the filter housing, differently shaped, displaceable cleaning elements can be used, which can be displaced in different displacement directions.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care device has a first washing liquid supply for supplying washing liquid through the filter inlet opening into the filter interior, and the laundry care appliance has a second washing liquid supply for supplying washing liquid through a further filter inlet opening into the filter interior, the laundry care device having a hydraulic valve, which is designed to hydraulically switch the first washing liquid supply or second washing liquid supply depending on the displacement of the displaceable cleaning element.

This achieves the technical advantage that, depending on the hydraulic circuit status of the valve, washing fluid is passed through different Filter inlet openings can be inserted into the filter interior, whereby force can be applied to the displaceable cleaning element from different sides, and thereby can be displaced in different directions of displacement to ensure effective removal of contaminants from the filter membrane.

In an advantageous embodiment, the hydraulic valve has a valve inlet, a first valve outlet, a second valve outlet and a valve flap, the valve flap fluidly blocking the first valve outlet in a first valve position and fluidly releasing the second valve outlet, and the valve flap in a second valve position fluidically blocks the second valve outlet and fluidly releases the first valve outlet, the hydraulic valve in particular having a snap mechanism which ensures that the valve flap is transferred between the first and second valve positions without an intermediate state.

This achieves the technical advantage that a particularly advantageous hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic valve can be ensured, through which the valve can be switched directly between the first and second valve positions. The snap mechanism in particular prevents the first and second valve outlets from being released fluidly at the same time.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care device has a sensor for detecting the displacement position of the displaceable cleaning element, and the laundry care device has a control for switching the hydraulic valve, the control being designed to activate the hydraulic valve as a function of the displacement position of the laundry care device detected by the sensor to switch movable cleaning element.

This achieves the technical advantage that the end of the displacement movement of the displaceable cleaning element can be advantageously detected by the sensor, whereby effective cleaning of the filter membrane can be ensured.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor element, or the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, which is designed to detect the fluid pressure of the fluid technology supply line to the filter element.

This achieves the technical advantage that an advantageous detection of the switching point for the displacement of the displaceable cleaning element is ensured.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts aus dem Stand der Technik;

Figs. 2A, 2B

schematische Ansichten eines Filterelements eines Wäschepflegegeräts aus dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht eines Filterelements in einem Aufnahmeelement eines Wäschepflegegeräts aus dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht eines Filterelements in einem Aufnahmeelement eines Wäschepflegegeräts aus dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht eines Filterelements eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einem verlagerbaren Reinigungselement gemäß einer Ausführungsform;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Ansicht eines Filterelements eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einem verlagerbaren Reinigungselement gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Figs. 7A, 7B

schematische Ansichten von Filterelementen eines Wäscheplegegeräts mit einem verlagerbaren Reinigungselement gemäß weiterer Ausführungsformen;

Figs. 8A, 8B

schematische Ansichten eines Filterelements eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einem verlagerbaren Reinigungselement gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 9

eine schematische Ansicht eines Filterelements eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einem verlagerbaren Reinigungselement gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Figs. 10A, 10B

schematische Ansichten eines Ventils eines Wäschepflegegeräts gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform; und

Fig. 11

eine schematische Ansicht eines Filterelements eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einem verlagerbaren Reinigungselement gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

Further exemplary embodiments are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a prior art laundry care device;

Figs. 2A, 2B

schematic views of a filter element of a laundry care device from the prior art;

Fig. 3

a schematic view of a filter element in a receiving element of a laundry care device from the prior art;

Fig. 4

a schematic view of a filter element in a receiving element of a laundry care device from the prior art;

Fig. 5

a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to an embodiment;

Fig. 6

a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment;

Figs. 7A, 7B

schematic views of filter elements of a laundry care device with a displaceable cleaning element according to further embodiments;

Figs. 8A, 8B

schematic views of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment;

Fig. 9

a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment;

Figs. 10A, 10B

schematic views of a valve of a laundry care device according to a further embodiment; and

Fig. 11

a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment.

The ones in the Figures 1 to 4 The objects shown are not part of the invention, but are prior art that facilitates understanding of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a laundry care device 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 includes a dispenser bowl 101 into which laundry care substance, such as detergent, can be filled. The laundry care device 100 includes a door 103 for loading the laundry care device 100 with laundry.

The laundry care device 100 has a device housing 102 and an in Fig. 1 only schematically shown control 104.

The Figures 2A and 2B show schematic views of a filter element of a laundry care device. In the Fig. 2A is a side sectional view of the filter element 105 and in the Fig. 2B is a sectional view of the filter element 105 shown from above.

That in the Figures 2A and 2B Filter element 105 shown is shown without the laundry care device 100. The filter element 105 has a filter housing 107, which at least partially delimits a filter interior 109 of the filter element 105. Here, the filter element 105 has a filter membrane 111 for filtering washing liquid 113, which is arranged on the filter housing 107. The filter element 105 has a filter inlet opening 115-1 for supplying washing liquid 113 into the filter interior 109.

The filter element 105 is designed to direct washing liquid 113 flowing into the filter interior 109 through the filter inlet opening 115-1 through the filter membrane 111 in order to remove impurities 117 in the washing liquid 113.

Like from the Figures 2A and 2B As can be seen, the filter housing 107 in particular has a cylindrical shape, with the cylindrical surface of the filter housing 107 in particular comprising the filter membrane 111. The washing liquid 113 thus flows through the filter membrane 111 radially outwards from the filter interior 109 and the contaminants 117 remain on the inside of the filter membrane 111.

The Figures 3 and 4 show schematic views of a filter element in a receiving element of a laundry care device. That in the Figures 3 and 4 The filter element 105 shown in each case is accommodated in a receiving element 119. The receiving element 119 is designed to receive washing liquid 113 flowing through the filter membrane 111 of the filter element 105. The washing liquid 113 received in the receiving element 118 can then be removed from the receiving element 118 again.

This in Fig. 3 Receiving element 119 shown is closed and can in particular be pressurized. This in Fig. 4 Receiving element 119 shown is open.

The receiving element 119 according to Fig. 4 may in particular comprise a dispensing tray 101 of the laundry care appliance 100, and/or a shell housing of the laundry care appliance 100 surrounding the dispensing tray 101. The receiving element according to the Fig. 3 can in particular be a liquid line of the laundry care device 100 include, which is fluidly connected in particular to an inlet and/or outlet of a tub of the laundry care appliance 100.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to an embodiment.

The filter element 105 has a displaceable cleaning element 121, which is arranged in the filter interior 109 and rests on the filter membrane 111. Since the filter membrane 111 becomes clogged with impurities 117 during operation of the filter element 105, the displaceable cleaning element 121 serves to remove the impurities 117 from the filter membrane 111.

For this purpose, the displaceable cleaning element 121 is displaced along a displacement direction 123 within the filter interior 109 in order to displace contaminants 117 attached to the filter membrane 111 along the displacement direction 123 and thereby remove the contaminants 117 from the filter membrane 111 at least in sections.

Like from the Fig. 5 As can be seen, the contaminants 117, in particular the contaminants 117 present below the displaceable cleaning element 121, are compressed in the filter interior 109 and can then be stored in an in Fig. 5 only schematically shown recording area 125 of the filter element 105 can be recorded. The recording area 125 is according to in Fig. 5 illustrated embodiment, a region of the filter interior 109, which is arranged in particular on a side of the filter housing 107 facing away from the filter inlet opening 115-1.

The displaceable cleaning element 121 is shaped in particular as a disk or as a cylinder, and can have a contact area 127, in particular an elastically deformable lip, which rests on the filter membrane 111, in particular rests in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner.

In the in Fig. 5 In the embodiment shown, the contaminants 117, in particular the contaminants 117 already present below the displaceable cleaning element 121, become below the displaceable cleaning element 121 collected and above the displaceable cleaning element 121 remains a filter membrane 111 freed from impurities 117.

In order to ensure a jam-free movement, the filter element 105 can have a guide element 129, in particular a guide rod and/or guide sleeve, wherein the displaceable cleaning element 121 can be moved along the guide element 129 in a guidable manner. In particular, if the inherent length of the filter element 105 is sufficient, if the length of the filter element 105 is greater than the width of the filter element 105, the guide element 129 can in particular be dispensed with, so that the displaceable cleaning element 121 is supported in this case by the contact with the filter membrane 111 becomes.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment. In the in Fig. 6 In the embodiment shown, the displaceable cleaning element 121 is automatically actuated by the hydraulic pressure when washing liquid 113 flows into the filter interior 109.

Here, the washing liquid 113 first flows through the filter inlet opening 115-1 into the filter interior 109 and slowly adds impurities 117 to the filter membrane 111 above the displaceable cleaning element 121, so that the hydraulic resistance increases with increasing accumulation of impurities 117. As soon as the force acting on the displaceable cleaning element 121 exceeds the frictional force between the displaceable cleaning element 121 and the filter membrane 111, the displaceable cleaning element 121 is displaced along the displacement direction 123 by the hydrostatic pressure and thereby frees the filter membrane 111 from the contaminants 117 at least in sections.

Here, the displaceable cleaning element 121 can in particular be of an in Fig. 6 first displacement position, not shown, in which the displaceable cleaning element 121 is arranged at the filter inlet opening 115-1, along the displacement direction 123 in an in Fig. 6 second displacement position, not shown, in which the displaceable cleaning element 121 is arranged on a further filter inlet opening 115-2.

By displacing the displaceable cleaning element 121, the contaminants 117 are compressed and displaced into a receiving area 125 of the filter element 105, which is arranged in an area of the filter interior 109, which is arranged at the further filter inlet opening 115-2.

A final limit on the displacement of the displaceable cleaning element 121 can be achieved in particular by an in Fig. 5 Stop not shown must be ensured.

Here, the second displacement position of the displaceable cleaning element 121 can be detected, in particular by a sensor, in particular a mechanical sensor or a pressure sensor, of the laundry care device 100, and the laundry care device 100 can then switch a hydraulic valve 131 of the laundry care device 100 to no longer supply the washing liquid 113 through a first washing liquid supply 133-1 through the filter inlet opening 115-1 into the filter interior 109, but rather supply the washing liquid 113 through a second washing liquid supply 133-2 through the further filter inlet opening 115-2 into the filter interior 109.

As a result, the dynamic pressure now acts on the displaceable cleaning element 121 from the other direction, so that the displaceable cleaning element 121 moves upwards again along a further displacement direction 135, which extends in the opposite direction to the displacement direction 133, from the lower, second, displacement position, in particular in the upper, first displacement position is displaced.

Here, during the displacement of the displaceable cleaning element 121 along the further displacement direction 135, the area of the filter membrane 111 contacted by the displaceable cleaning element 121 is freed from contaminants 117, so that the contaminants 117 can be accommodated in a compressed manner in a receiving region 125 of the filter interior 109, which is located on the Filter inlet opening 115-1 is arranged in the filter interior 109.

By appropriately detecting the end positions, or the first and second displacement positions, of the displaceable cleaning element 121, in particular by a sensor, and corresponding hydraulic switching of the valve 131, a Back and forth movement of the displaceable cleaning element 121 along the displacement direction 123 and along the further displacement direction 135 can be ensured.

As a result, the contaminants removed from the filter membrane 111 are compressed and the compressed contaminants 117 are each alternately received in the receiving area 125 in the area of the further filter inlet opening 115-2 and in the receiving area 125 in the area of the filter inlet opening 115-1.

In particular, by moving the displaceable cleaning element 121 back and forth several times and increasing the amount of impurities 117 in the filter element 105, the displacement path can become increasingly smaller until the displaceable cleaning element 121 remains in the middle of the filter element 105. In this case, the filter element 105 can in particular be designed as a disposable solution, in which the filter element 105, which is almost completely filled with compressed impurities 117, is replaced after a certain period of use.

The Figures 7A, 7B show schematic views of filter elements of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to further embodiments.

The ones in the Figures 7A and 7B The displaceable cleaning elements 121 shown themselves each comprise at least one receiving area 125 for receiving compressed contaminants 117, the at least one receiving area 125 comprising at least one recess in the displaceable cleaning element 121.

In particular, the contaminants 117 can remain in the respective receiving area 125 of the corresponding displaceable cleaning element 121 by providing in the Figures 7A and 7B Elements, not shown, which enable the particles to penetrate easily but make it difficult to escape, such as flaps, barbs and/or rod-shaped elastic non-return valves, can be improved.

The Figures 8A, 8B show schematic views of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment.

The filter housing 107 of the filter element 105 has the shape of a cylinder segment which spans part of a circular arc, in particular a quarter circle. This in Fig. 8A The individually displaceable cleaning element 121 shown here is shaped in particular as a rotatable cleaning element 121, in particular as a doctor blade, which can rotate about a cylinder axis 137 of the doctor blade.

Here, the filter surface of the filter membrane 111 is increased, since not only the cylindrical surface of the filter element 105, but also the two top surfaces of the filter housing 107 can be covered by the filter membrane 111.

Like in the Figures 8A and 8B is only shown schematically, the displacement direction 123 and the further displacement direction 135 extend along an arc of a circle around a point of rotation of the rotatable cleaning element 121 defined by the cylinder axis 137.

Like from the Fig. 8B As can be seen, by alternately rotating the rotatable cleaning element 121 along the displacement direction 123 and along the further displacement direction 135, contaminants 117 adhering to the filter membrane 111 are removed, compressed and the compressed contaminants 117 can be accommodated in receiving areas 125 of the filter interior 109.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment.

This in Fig. 9 Filter element 105 shown here has the shape of a cylinder segment which spans part of a circular arc, in particular a full circle. Here too, the rotatable cleaning element 121, in particular the doctor blade, can be displaced along a displacement direction 123 and a further displacement direction 135, the displacement direction 123 and the further displacement direction 135 extends along a circular arc around a point of rotation of the rotatable cleaning element 121 defined by the cylinder axis 137.

As a result, the contaminants 117 are removed from the filter membrane 111, compressed and placed in the in Fig. 9 only schematic recording areas 125 of the filter interior 109 are recorded.

Through that in the Figures 8A and 8B , or. Fig. 9 Rotatable cleaning element 121 shown, in particular doctor blade, can be carried out particularly advantageously, since a rotary bearing can be used instead of a linear guide and the rotating system can be manufactured advantageously. In addition, a rotary valve in particular can be transferred directly to the cylindrical section of the rotatable cleaning element 121, so that the washing liquid 113 can be introduced into the filter interior 109 through the rotatable cleaning element 121 itself.

The Figures 10A and 10B show schematic views of a valve of a laundry care device according to a further embodiment.

The valve 131 has a snap mechanism, comprising a switching lever 139 and a spring 141, which switches a valve flap 143 of the valve 131 between a first valve position and a second valve position such that the valve flap 143 is transferred between the first and second valve positions without an intermediate state .

As a result, washing liquid 113, which flows into the valve 131 via a valve inlet 145, can be supplied, depending on the valve position, either via a first valve outlet 147-1 to a first washing liquid supply 133-1 or via a second valve outlet 147-2 to a second washing liquid supply 133-2. The snap mechanism ensures that only one of the two valve outputs 147-1, 147-2 is released fluidly.

For detailed information regarding the arrangement of the valve 131 in the laundry care appliance 100, in particular with regard to the fluid connection with a filter element 105, see Fig. 6 referred.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic view of a filter element of a laundry care appliance with a displaceable cleaning element according to a further embodiment.

In the in Fig. 11 In the embodiment shown, the amplitude of the movement of the displaceable cleaning element 121 is limited to the central region of the filter housing 107. Here, the washing liquid 113 is supplied through the filter inlet opening 115-1 and through the further filter inlet opening 115-2, also in the central region of the filter housing 107, in particular through the cylinder surface of the filter housing 107.

The filter housing 107 of the in Fig. 11 The filter element 105 shown each has a receiving area 125 designed as a contaminant depot on an upper and a lower side of the filter housing 107 in order to accommodate compressed contaminants 117 which have been removed from the filter membrane 111 by the displaceable cleaning element 121.

For the detailed design of the valve 131 and with regard to the function of the displaceable cleaning element 121, reference is made to the previous statements.

All 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 simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

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 symbol list

100

Laundry care device

101

Induction bowl

102

Device housing

103

door

104

steering

105

Filter element

107

Filter housing

109

Filter interior

111

Filter membrane

113

Washing fluid

115-1

Filter inlet opening

115-2

Additional filter inlet opening

117

impurities

119

Recording element

121

Relocatable cleaning element

123

Direction of displacement

125

Recording area

127

Contact area

129

Leadership element

131

Valve

133-1

First washer fluid supply

133-2

Second washer fluid supply

135

Further shift direction

137

Cylinder axis of the squeegee flap

139

Shift lever

141

Feather

143

valve flap

145

Valve inlet

147-1

First valve output

147-2

Second valve output

Claims (15)

1. Laundry care appliance (100) having a filter element (105) for filtering washing liquid (113), wherein the filter element (105) has a filter housing (107), which bounds a filter interior space (109) of the filter element (105) at least in sections, wherein the filter element (105) has a filter membrane (111) for filtering washing liquid (113), which is arranged on the filter housing (107), wherein the filter element (105) has a filter inlet opening (115-1) for supplying washing liquid (113) into the filter interior space (109), wherein the filter element (105) is embodied to conduct washing liquid (113) flowing into the filter interior space (109) through the filter inlet opening (115-1) through the filter membrane (111) in order to remove dirt (117) in the washing liquid (113), wherein the filter element (105) has a displaceable cleaning element (121), which is arranged in the filter interior space (109) and rests against the filter membrane (111), characterised in that the displaceable cleaning element (121) is displaced along a displacement direction (123) within the filter interior space (109) in order to displace dirt (117) attached to the filter membrane (111) along the displacement direction (123) on the filter membrane (111), in order to remove the dirt (117) from the filter membrane (111) at least in sections and in order to compress the dirt (117), and that
   the filter element (105) has a receiving area (125) which is embodied to receive the compressed dirt (117).
2. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving area (125) comprises an area of the filter interior space (109), and/or that the receiving area (125) comprises an area of the displaceable cleaning element (121), in particular a depression in the displaceable cleaning element (121), and/or that the receiving area (125) comprises an area of the filter housing (107), in particular a dirt repository in the filter housing (107).
3. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the filter housing (107) has a cylinder shape and/or a polygon shape, and wherein the cylinder lateral area or polygon lateral area of the filter housing (107) comprises the filter membrane (111), wherein the washing liquid (113) flows out of the filter interior space (109) radially, in particular from the filter interior space (109) into an exterior space of the filter element (105), through the filter membrane (111), in order to remove dirt (117) in the washing liquid (113).
4. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a receiving element (119), which is embodied to receive the filter element (105) and washing liquid (113) flowing through the filter membrane (111) of the filter element (105), wherein the receiving element (119) comprises in particular a detergent dispenser tray (101) of the laundry care appliance (100) and/or a tray housing of the laundry care appliance (100) which surrounds the detergent dispenser tray (101), and/or a liquid line, which is fluidically connected in particular to an input and/or output of an outer tub of the laundry care appliance (100).
5. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter element (105) has a further filter inlet opening (115-2) for supplying washing liquid (113) into the filter interior space (109), wherein the further filter inlet opening (115-2) is arranged in particular on a side of the filter housing (107) facing away from the filter inlet opening (115-1).
6. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displaceable cleaning element (121) is embodied to be displaced by washing liquid (113), which flows in through the at least one filter inlet opening (115-1, 115-2) into the filter interior space (109), in particular exclusively by washing liquid (113), within the filter interior space (109), and/or that the displaceable cleaning element (121) is displaced along the displacement direction (123) by a drive of the laundry care appliance (100).
7. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displaceable cleaning element (121) is formed as a disc, as a cylinder or as a wiper flap, and/or that the displaceable cleaning element (121) has a contact area (127), in particular an elastically deformable contact lip, which rests against the filter membrane (111), in particular in a force and/or form fit manner.
8. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter element (105) has a guide element (129), in particular a guide rod and/or a guide sleeve, wherein the displaceable cleaning element (121) is guidably mounted on the guide element (129), in order to guidably displace the displaceable cleaning element (121) along the displacement direction (123), in particular until the displaceable cleaning element (121) rests against a stop of the filter element (105).
9. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displaceable cleaning element (121) is arranged in a first displacement position, in particular on the filter inlet opening (115-1), wherein the displaceable cleaning element (121) is transferred from the first displacement position into a second displacement position by a displacement along the displacement direction (123), wherein the second displacement position is arranged in an area of the filter interior space (109) facing away from the first displacement position, in particular on the further filter inlet opening (115-2).
10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 9, characterised in that the displaceable cleaning element (121) is displaced along a further displacement direction (135) from the second displacement position into the first displacement position, wherein the further displacement direction (135) extends in the opposite direction to the displacement direction (123).
11. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displacement direction (123) and/or the further displacement direction (135) extends between the filter inlet opening (115-1) and a side of the filter housing (107) facing away from the filter inlet opening (115-1), or the displacement direction (123) and/or the further displacement direction (135) extends along a circular arc about a point of rotation of a rotatable cleaning element (121).
12. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a first washing liquid supply (133-1) for supplying washing liquid (113) through the filter inlet opening (115-1) into the filter interior space (109), and that the laundry care appliance (100) has a second washing liquid supply (133-2) for supplying washing liquid (113) through a further filter inlet opening (115-2) into the filter interior space (109), wherein the laundry care appliance (100) has a hydraulic valve (131), which is embodied to hydraulically switch the first washing liquid supply (133-1) or second washing liquid supply (133-2) as a function of the displacement of the displaceable cleaning element (121).
13. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 12, characterised in that the hydraulic valve (131) has a valve input (145), a first valve output (147-1), a second valve output (147-2) and a valve flap (143), wherein the valve flap (143) fluidically blocks the first valve output (147-1) in a first valve position and fluidically releases the second valve output (147-2), and wherein the valve flap (143), in a second valve position, fluidically blocks the second valve output (147-2) and fluidically releases the first valve output (147-1), wherein the hydraulic valve (131) has in particular a snap-fit mechanism, which ensures that the valve flap (143) is transferred between the first and second valve position without an intermediate state.
14. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a sensor for detecting the displacement position of the displaceable cleaning element (121), and that the laundry care appliance (100) has a controller (104) for switching the hydraulic valve (131), wherein the controller (104) is embodied to switch the hydraulic valve (131) as a function of the displacement position, detected by the sensor, of the displaceable cleaning element (121).
15. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 14, characterised in that the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor element or that the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, which is embodied to detect the fluid pressure of the fluidic supply line to the filter element (105).

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