EP3828328A1 - Washing machine comprising a device for adding treatment agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine with a cylindrical tub (2) arranged in a housing (4) and a drum (3) rotatably mounted within the tub (2) and driven by a drive motor (13) for receiving the laundry items to be treated; Supply line (23, 26) for supplying fresh water from an external water supply to the tub (2); - a valve (15) for controlling or releasing and blocking the water supply through the supply line (23, 26); - a device (8) for Dispensing of treatment agent (81), for example detergent, into the tub (2) with a storage container (85) for treatment agent (81), a feed line (83) and a metering pump (82) for conveying the treatment agent (81) through the feed line ( 83) in the tub (2); - a sensor device (71) for detecting the amount of washing liquid (72) in the tub (2); - a control device (18) for control ung of the valve (15), the drive motor (13) and the dosing pump (82). The control device (18) is set up and programmed to control the dosing pump (82) and thus the amount of treatment agent (81) to be dosed as a function of the to control the detected amount of fresh water (72) fed into the tub (2).

Description

• einer Zulaufleitung zum Zuführen von Frischwasser aus einer externen Wasserversorgung zum Laugenbehälter;
• einem Ventil zum Steuern oder Freigeben und Sperren des Wasserzulaufs durch die Zulaufleitung;
• eine Einrichtung zur Abgabe von Behandlungsmittel, beispielsweise Waschmittel, in den Laugenbehälter mit einem Vorratsbehälter für Behandlungsmittel, einer Zuführungsleitung und einer Dosierpumpe zum Fördern des Behandlungsmittels durch die Zuführungsleitung in den Laugenbehälter;
• einer Sensoreinrichtung zur Erfassung der Menge der Waschflüssigkeit in dem Laugenbehälter;
• eine Steuereinrichtung zur Steuerung des Ventils, des Antriebsmotors und der Dosierpumpe.

The invention relates to a washing machine with a cylindrical tub arranged in a housing and a drum rotatably mounted within the tub and driven by a drive motor for receiving the laundry items to be treated;

• a feed line for supplying fresh water from an external water supply to the tub;
• a valve for controlling or releasing and blocking the water supply through the supply line;
• a device for dispensing treatment agent, for example detergent, into the tub with a storage container for treatment agent, a feed line and a metering pump for conveying the treatment agent through the feed line into the tub;
• a sensor device for detecting the amount of washing liquid in the tub;
• a control device for controlling the valve, the drive motor and the metering pump.

From the EP 2 251 480 A1 a washing machine with a metering device for liquid additives is generally known, which is arranged in the area of the detergent dispenser drawer within the washing machine housing. In this case, a valve and conveying device is fixedly arranged in the washing machine, the container, which is precisely shaped for the receiving space within the washing machine, being removable.

From the DE 10 2006 009 807 A1 it is known to individually mix the treatment agent for a washing machine. The washing machine includes a metering device in which the individual active ingredients are stored in individual containers. To operate the metering device, the respective treatment agent is mixed together from the large number of individual active ingredients based on the soiling and the type of laundry to be washed and fed to the tub.

From the EP 2 050 859 A1 a washing machine with an automatic metering device is known, a set of suitability information being available for each treatment agent received in the storage containers, of which individual suitability information is stored for each washing or treatment cycle, which is used to select the treatment agent to be dosed . This ensures that as many factors as possible that influence suitability for the batch of laundry to be washed are taken into account.

The disadvantage of the known washing machines is that, depending on the load, imprecise dosages, such as overdosing or underdosing of treatment agents, are possible. The concentration of liquid detergents in water is given in ml / l. However, the exact amount of water is often not known to the user. Therefore, the dosage is also given in ml / kg dry laundry. When calculating the product quantity, the nominal load of the program is often used as the basis for calculation. Therefore, many detergent manufacturers also praise their consumption in relation to the laundry load.

However, the maximum loading amount is rarely used. Many washing machines recognize an underload and reduce water consumption. This then results in the overdose. There are also applications in hygienically sensitive areas where precise dosing of products based on the amount of water is essential. This is the case with disinfectant washing processes or with so-called pre-preparations of mop covers (equipping) with surface disinfectants.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a washing machine in which the predetermined treatment agent concentration is always ensured with different loads and different amounts of washing liquid.

According to the invention, this object is achieved, inter alia, by a washing machine with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are that a very precise metering that is adapted to the load is ensured in a simple manner. Furthermore, the exact dosage is also ensured for different items of laundry that can have different suction behavior. Overall, incorrect dosages are avoided.

This is achieved in a simple manner in that the control device is set up and programmed to control the dosing pump and thus the amount of treatment agent to be dosed as a function of the detected amount of fresh water supplied to the tub.

Since the exact amount of water supplied is not known at the beginning, it can vary greatly in one and the same washing program, this depends on the one hand on the type of laundry, which can have different suction behavior and depends on the load. Furthermore, additional options such as "save water" can lead to a lower amount of water for carrying out the washing phase. These disruptive factors do not lead to incorrect dosing, because the amount of treatment agent to be supplied is currently determined as a function of the amount of fresh water actually supplied. It is a question of metering the exact amount of water. In this way, the washing solution, that is to say the mixture in the predetermined ratio of fresh water with treatment agent, which has the best effect is always provided. The predetermined ratio of fresh water and treatment agent is always maintained for different amounts of washing liquid.

Overall, there is the advantage that there is no overdosing of detergent, which has an advantageous effect on environmental properties and costs when the washing machine is operated. Furthermore, improved process reliability is achieved in applications with a given concentration, that is to say overall the required concentration is achieved with the inclusion of potential savings through level control and load detection systems.

In an expedient embodiment, the control device is set up and programmed to activate the valve for a first water intake phase and water intake for a second phase, and to close the valve between the first and second phases and to activate the drive motor to move the drum to turn. A phase is defined as a period of time. By rotating the drum after the first water supply has ended, the batch of laundry in the drum is mixed with the water or the washing liquid. The laundry soaks up water so that the level drops. Then, in the second phase, more fresh water can be let in until the detection device determines the predetermined value. This refueling can be repeated several times, depending on the accuracy requirements.

In a preferred embodiment or further development, the control device is set up and programmed to activate the metering pump in such a way that the amount of treatment agent to be dosed for the first phase corresponds to a fixed predetermined amount and the amount of treatment agent to be dosed for the second phase varies depending on the the amount of liquid detected in the tub.

The dosing process takes place in two steps. In the first step, a basic dosage (for example in ml) is programmed. This can refer, for example, to the water volume for a so-called minimum level. The intake volume without loading can be determined as the minimum level. With the first water inlet, the dosing of the basic or initial dosing takes place.

The second dosing step takes place after the water supply has been completed. The dosing amount of the second step is determined by a calculation algorithm that includes the specified concentration (in ml / l), the minimum dosing amount and the amount of water that has run in. On the basis of this data, the control device determines from the dosing specifications, the basic dosing and the amount of water that has run in, the missing dosing amount (in ml) to achieve the target concentration of treatment agent in the washing liquid. The control device also calculates the dosing time required for this and controls the dosing pump accordingly via the preset time. This is possible, for example, if the delivery rate of the dosing pump is constant, so that the dosing amount is determined from the known delivery rate multiplied by the delivery time.

In an overall expedient embodiment, the control device is set up to record and store a reference amount of the amount of treatment agent to be supplied as a user input. The acquisition is preferably carried out with the aid of an operating device which is used to acquire operator inputs by the user. To this end, the washing machine comprises an operating device which is in data connection with the control device and is designed for further inputs relating to the operation of the washing machine.

In a generally advantageous development of the invention, the control device is set up to activate the dosing pump in the first phase together during the activated fresh water inflow in order to convey the treatment agent in the first phase together during the activated fresh water inflow into the tub or into the drum . As a result, the treatment agent is thoroughly mixed with the fresh water to create the washing liquid.

In a preferred development of the invention, the control device is set up to activate the metering pump after the end of the second phase or further phase of the fresh water supply, this further amount to be metered being determined as a function of the detected liquid level in the tub. The level is detected by means of the sensor device, the valve for the fresh water supply being closed. This means that the metering for the second section does not take place at the same time as the fresh water supply. As a result, only the amount of treatment agent that is intended for the amount of fresh water refilled in the second phase is let into the tub. This means that no dilution is achieved if more fresh water is refilled than usual. Furthermore, an excessively high concentration of treatment agent is not caused if, due to the laundry item or a user input, a smaller amount of fresh water is refilled than usual, that is generally provided for the set washing program.

In a generally advantageous embodiment, the device for dispensing treatment agent is arranged inside the housing. The storage container, the metering pump and the supply lines are thus integrated in the washing machine, so that a compact and space-saving overall arrangement is created.

In another embodiment, the device for dispensing treatment agent is arranged outside the housing, the metering pump being connected to the control device of the washing machine by means of signal lines. The control device is set up and programmed accordingly to activate and deactivate the externally arranged metering pump during the course of a washing program depending on the amount of fresh water admitted into the tub, preferably in the manner as described above.

Fig. 1:

eine Waschmaschine mit einer automatischen geräteinternen Dosiereinrichtung in schematischer Darstellung und

Fig. 2:

eine Waschmaschine mit einer automatischen geräteexternen Dosiereinrichtung in schematischer Darstellung.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a washing machine with an automatic device-internal metering device in a schematic representation and

Fig. 2:

a washing machine with an automatic external metering device in a schematic representation.

In Fig. 1 a washing machine 1 with a tub 2 is shown in a purely schematic representation. The position and direction details relate to the operational set-up position of the washing machine 1. Inside the tub 2 is a rotatably mounted drum 3 driven by an electric motor 13, which moves items of laundry in the tub 2 during a wash cycle. In the present exemplary embodiment, the drum 3 is made of stainless steel and is provided with a large number of openings for the flow. The housing 4 has a loading opening 9 through which the interior of the drum 3 can be reached through the sealing sleeve 6. The loading opening 9 can be closed by means of a door 5. In the lower area of the tub 2, a heating element 7 is arranged, which can heat the washing liquid 72 in the tub 2. In the upper area of the machine 1, an inlet valve 15 is sketched, which provides the inlet of the water from the supply network through the line 23. Via the dispenser drawer 20, the water is conducted via the connecting pipe 14 into the tub 2, and detergent that has been introduced into the tub 2 as required can be flushed into the tub 2 in the dispenser drawer 20 or in a chamber 21 arranged in the dispenser drawer 20. A drainage device 12 is arranged below the tub 2, which leads the used washing liquid or the rinsing water out of the tub 2 to the drain line, which usually opens into a sewer. The Control device 18 controls inlet valve 15, the activity of drain device 12, drive motor 13, which is powered by a power unit or a frequency converter (not shown), and heating element 7. Washing machine 1 also includes an automatically controlled metering device 8 with at least one storage container 85 for liquid or viscous addition means 81, which is arranged inside the washing machine housing 4. Liquid detergents, washing additives or rinsing additives, such as fabric softeners, are used as adding means 81, for example. An operating device 19 is used to receive user inputs, which are evaluated by the control device 18 and processed accordingly. A sensor 71 is attached on or in the tub in order to detect the level and thus the amount of washing liquid 72 or the amount of fresh water supplied in the tub 2 and to make it available as a value to the control device 18.

In this embodiment, the metering device 8 comprises a pump 82 which conveys the adding means 81 to the lower area of the tub 2 via a connecting line 83, which is designed here as a hose, and lets it into the tub 2 via a lip valve 84 or a nozzle. The hose line 83 is designed and laid so flexibly that it can also absorb or compensate for the movements of the tub 2.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment with an externally arranged metering device 8. In this embodiment, the metering device 8 comprises a pump 82 which conveys the additive 81 from the storage container 85 via a connecting line 83, which is designed here as a hose line, to the tub 2 of the external washing machine 1 and via lets a lip valve 84 or a nozzle into the tub 2 ( Fig. 1 ). The hose line 83 is designed and laid so flexibly that it can also absorb or compensate for the movements of the washing machine 1 or that the modular device 8 can be placed in different positions in relation to the fixed washing machine 1. The storage container 85 with the pump 83 and part of the connecting line is designed as an external module, the control device 18 of the washing machine 1 being operatively connected to the module 8, in particular to the pump 83, by means of lines or signal lines 88.

The metering device 8 for the washing machine 1 described above can also contain two or more storage containers 85, with a separate metering pump 82 being provided for each storage container 85, which in turn is operatively connected to the control device 18 so that it is activated and deactivated in a targeted manner by the control device 18 can be. In this way, different treatment agents 81 can be added to the washing water 72 at different times. For all of the variants described here for the washing machine 1, the control device 18 preferably has one Includes microcontroller with program memory and is designed to activate and deactivate the metering pump 82, the inlet valve 15 and the drive motor 13, possibly the heating element 7, as required by the set washing program or laundry treatment program and as already described above.

Overall, all direction and position information relates to the operational installation position of the washing machine 1.

Claims (8)

Washing machine with a cylindrical tub (2) arranged in a housing (4) and a drum (3) rotatably mounted within the tub (2) and driven by a drive motor (13) for receiving the laundry items to be treated; - A feed line (23, 26) for supplying fresh water from an external water supply to the tub (2); - A valve (15) for controlling or releasing and blocking the water supply through the supply line (23, 26); - A device (8) for dispensing treatment agent (81), for example detergent, into the tub (2) with a storage container (85) for treatment agent (81), a feed line (83) and a metering pump (82) for conveying the treatment agent (81) through the supply line (83) into the tub (2); - A sensor device (71) for detecting the amount of washing liquid (72) in the tub (2); - a control device (18) for controlling the valve (15), the drive motor (13) and the metering pump (82), wherein the control device (18) is set up and programmed to control the dosing pump (82) and thus the amount of treatment agent (81) to be dosed as a function of the detected amount of fresh water (72) fed into the tub (2). Washing machine according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the control device (18) is set up and programmed to activate the valve (15) for a first water intake phase and for a second water intake phase, and to close the valve (15) and the drive motor between the first and second phases (13) to turn the drum (3). Washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the control device (18) is set up and programmed to activate the dosing pump (82) in such a way that the dosing amount of treatment agent (81) for the first phase corresponds to a fixed predetermined amount and for the second phase the amount of treatment agent to be dosed depends on the amount of liquid detected in the tub (2). Washing machine according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized by
the control device (18) is set up to record and store a reference amount of the amount of treatment agent (81) to be supplied as a user input. Washing machine according to one of claims 2 to 4,
characterized,
that the control device (18) is set up to jointly activate the metering pump (82) in the first phase during the activated fresh water inflow in order to let the treatment agent into the tub (2) or drum (3). Washing machine according to one of claims 2 to 5,
characterized,
that the control device (18) is set up to activate the dosing pump (82) after the end of the second phase or further phase of the fresh water supply, the further amount to be dosed being determined as a function of the detected liquid level in the tub (2). Washing machine according to one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the device (8) for dispensing treatment agent is arranged within the housing (4). Washing machine according to one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the device (8) for dispensing treatment agent is arranged outside the housing (4), the metering pump (82) being connected to the control device (18) of the washing machine (1) by means of signal lines (88).

Images