EP4006226B1 - Household appliance for treating goods comprising an atomiser - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance for treating material to be treated, comprising a treatment chamber for receiving the material to be treated, a feed device for supplying water from a fresh water connection to the treatment chamber and a mist generator for generating mist and supplying the mist to the treatment chamber, the feed device having an antechamber Fresh water connection with the antechamber connecting a first supply line and at least one transfer connecting the antechamber with the treatment chamber, wherein in the first supply line an inlet valve arrangement comprising at least a first valve and between the first valve and the antechamber a first air path connected to the antechamber are arranged, and wherein the mist generator is connected to the fresh water connection via a second supply line, which second supply line has a second valve.

The document EP 2 850 241 B1 discloses a household appliance of the type defined above. This household appliance is designed in particular as a laundry care machine for caring for laundry items, in particular as a washing machine or washer-dryer, and has a mist generator. This includes a water tank to be filled with fresh water from a fresh water connection, in which an ultrasonic transmitter is arranged. With this ultrasonic transmitter, a cold mist can be generated in the water tank above a water level, which is fed via a mist channel designed as a circuit by means of an air flow generated by a fan to the material to be treated in a treatment chamber, specifically a tub with a rotatable drum located therein. The mist channel also includes a reactive gas generator for generating a reactive gas, especially ozone, which can be supplied to the material to be treated via the mist channel together with the mist. Finally, the mist channel also contains a reactive gas filter, with which the reactive gas can be removed from the air flow in order to prevent its uncontrolled spread.

The document EP 2 855 754 B1 discloses a water-carrying household appliance which has a treatment gas generator and an induction arrangement as well as a mist generator. A mist channel for introducing treatment gas and mist into the treatment chamber with the material to be treated communicates with the induction arrangement, which is connected to the treatment chamber via several water reservoirs or siphons.

The document EP 2 858 545 B1 discloses a water-conducting household appliance which has an ozone generator and a mist generator as well as an ozone filter, which are arranged in a mist channel which forms a substantially closed circuit with the treatment chamber and in which there is also a fan for driving an air stream which contains the ozone and the mist leads to the treatment chamber. For the purpose of guiding to the treatment chamber, the fan is operated so that the air flow flows along a main direction through the mist channel. For the purpose of removing the ozone from the air flow after the treatment of the material presented has been completed, the blower is operated in such a way that the air flow flows through the mist channel counter to the main direction. In this way, ozone from the treatment chamber in the mist channel first reaches the ozone filter, where it is broken down in particular by reacting with activated carbon.

The document EP 2 598 682 B1 discloses a household appliance that has an ozone generator. This ozone generator is supplied with air stream containing water vapor, and in the ozone generator, ozone is generated in this air stream by the action of ultraviolet light from a corresponding light source. The air stream thus mixed with ozone is then fed to a treatment chamber with the material to be treated in order to treat the material to be treated with the ozone.

The standard DIN EN 61770/A11:2018 requires for a water-carrying household appliance that is connected to a fresh water connection to a supply network for water for human consumption that any material of the household appliance that comes into contact with such water does not pose a health risk for such water nor may cause any change in quality, external impression, smell or taste. Therefore, such a household appliance must be secured against backflow of water into the fresh water connection, and contact of fresh water introduced into the household appliance with any material or agent that poses a potential risk of impairing fresh water for human consumption may only be secured on the downstream side by an appropriate safeguard Backflow occurs. An air gap can be used to protect against backflow; This is a device which can be installed in a pipe or hose system and in which the liquid flowing through flows freely from one pipe socket to another over a short distance. Information on the design of such an air gap can be found in the standard mentioned.

In the present case, a household appliance is understood to mean a device that is suitable and intended for use in running a private household in order to achieve the desired material success. In the present case, a water-conducting household appliance is considered in particular, i.e. a household appliance in which water plays a role in achieving the desired result, this water in particular having to be taken from a supply network for water for human consumption. Such a household appliance can in particular be a dishwasher for washing dishes and a laundry care machine for caring for, in particular washing, items of laundry.

It is an object of the invention to provide a further developed household appliance of the type defined at the outset.

To solve this problem, according to the invention, a household appliance is specified according to the preamble of the corresponding independent patent claim, which additionally has the features of the characterizing part of the independent patent claim.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are listed in the dependent patent claims and in the following description and can also be used in combinations with one another as far as technical considerations permit, even if this is not explicitly stated herein.

To solve the problem, according to the invention, a household appliance for treating material to be treated is provided, comprising a treatment chamber for receiving the material to be treated, a feed device for supplying water from a fresh water connection to the treatment chamber and a mist generator for generating mist and supplying the mist to the treatment chamber, whereby the feed device has an antechamber, a first supply line connecting the fresh water connection to the antechamber and at least one transfer line connecting the antechamber to the treatment chamber, wherein in the first supply line there is an inlet valve arrangement comprising at least one first valve and between the first valve and the antechamber one with the antechamber connected first air path are arranged, and wherein the fog generator is connected to the fresh water connection via a second supply line, which second supply line has a second valve, in which household appliance a second air path is also arranged in the second supply line between the second valve and the fog generator, which connected to the antechamber.

Thus, in the household appliance according to the invention, a safeguard against a backflow of water from the mist generator is provided in the form of the second air gap, and this safeguard is combined with the first air gap, which represents a safeguard against backflow from the antechamber, in such a way that both air gaps in connection with the interior of the antechamber and thus with the interior of the treatment chamber. As a result, the second air gap maintains the integrity of the system consisting of the fog generator and the treatment chamber, and an uncontrolled escape of fog from the fog generator or the treatment chamber is avoided. In addition, there is always the same air pressure on both air routes. This means that both air paths respond equally in the event of suction back, and with such a common response, there can be no uncontrolled displacement of air or mist within the household appliance.

In principle, the invention can be used on a water-conducting household appliance of any type, especially since the effort required to use the invention is quite low. In particular, a laundry care machine such as a washing machine and a washer-dryer as well as a dishwasher come into consideration as such a household appliance.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antechamber is covered on one top side by a lid, and the second air gap is attached to the lid and has a connection to the antechamber that penetrates the lid. With further preference, the second air gap is a bulge in the cover, to which two first pipe sockets are connected, to which the second supply line is connected. It is further preferred that the second air gap, the first pipe socket and the cover are formed in one piece. In this way, the second air gap is largely integrated into the structure of an existing component of the household appliance, can therefore be produced easily and inexpensively and is robustly integrated into the structure of the household appliance.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first valve arrangement and the second valve are spatially connected to one another, in particular arranged and fastened together on the antechamber. This also enables simple and cost-effective production and achieves robust integration into the structure of the household appliance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the mist generator and the treatment chamber are connected to form a circuit via a mist channel. With further advantage, this cycle is essentially self-contained. With even further preference, the mist channel has a fan through which an air flow flowing in a main direction can be formed in the circuit. With further preference, the fan is arranged upstream of the fog generator with respect to the main direction. In the household appliance designed in this way, the treatment chamber can be intensively exposed to the material to be treated in it by the fan driving the mist generated in the mist generator through the mist channel into the treatment chamber. It may also be provided that the fan can be operated in such a way that the air flow in the mist channel flows in a direction opposite to the main direction and in this way conveys any mist remaining in the treatment chamber back into the mist channel for disposal after the treatment has been completed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a reactive gas generator for generating a reactive gas with respect to the main direction downstream of the blower and upstream of the treatment chamber and a reactive gas filter for eliminating the reactive gas with respect to the main direction are arranged upstream of the blower and downstream of the treatment chamber. This allows the material to be treated to be treated with a reactive gas, which is generated in the mist channel in addition to the mist. The arrangement of the reactive gas generator downstream of the mist generator causes the reactive gas to be generated in an air stream enriched with the mist, whereby the reactive gas can optionally be generated by a reaction with the water in the mist or the reactive gas combines with the mist, for example by diffusion of the reactive gas into the droplets of the mist. The treatment can also be provided in such a way that a reaction takes place on or in the material to be treated, which requires the simultaneous presence of water and reactive gas, with the mist ensuring the presence of an effective amount of water on or in the material to be treated. Finally, it is also advantageous to use the fog visible to a user of the household appliance to provide an optical indicator, from the appearance of which the user can perceive the treatment of the material to be treated with the reactive gas.

In an even further preferred embodiment of the invention, the reactive gas generator is designed to generate ozone as the reactive gas, and the reactive gas filter is an activated carbon filter. This makes the use of the invention possible for use with ozone, a very effective oxidizing agent, which, for example, breaks down stuck Contamination and effective deodorization and disinfection of items to be treated, in particular laundry items, separately or in addition to other treatment processes.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mist generator has a water tank and is set up to generate a cold mist. With further preference, an ultrasonic transmitter set up to generate the cold mist is arranged in the water tank. The cold mist is a dispersion of the finest water droplets in air and is only created by the action of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasonic transmitter on the water in the water tank, without a significant increase in the temperature of the water or the mist. The fog generator therefore does not require an increased temperature compared to the surroundings of the household appliance to form the fog, which increases its operational reliability.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the corresponding household appliance is set up as a laundry care machine for treating laundry items as items to be treated. It is further preferred that the household appliance is designed to wash the laundry items. With additional advantage, a rotatable and perforated drum for receiving the laundry items is arranged in the treatment chamber. With even further advantage, the antechamber has a dispensing arrangement, in particular a dispensing bowl, in which a treatment agent, in particular laundry care products such as detergent and fabric softener, can be added to the fresh water passing through the treatment chamber.

Fig. 1

eine schematisierte frontale Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäß ausgestatteten Haushaltsgerätes;

Fig. 2

eine schematisierte Ansicht einer zweiten Luftstrecke im Haushaltsgerät gemäß Figur 1; und

Fig. 3

eine schematisierte Ansicht eines vertikalen Schnitts durch den Wassertank im Haushaltsgerät gemäß Figur 1.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic frontal view of a household appliance equipped according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of a second air gap in the household appliance Figure 1 ; and

Fig. 3

a schematic view of a vertical section through the water tank in the household appliance Figure 1 .

Figure 1 shows a schematic first embodiment of the household appliance 1 according to the invention, here designed as a washing machine 1, for treating items to be treated 2, here items of laundry 2. The household appliance 1 comprises a treatment chamber 3 for receiving the items to be treated 2, the treatment chamber 3 here designed as a swinging suspended tub 3, in which a rotatable and perforated drum 4 is arranged, which receives the material to be treated 2 and moves it by rotating it during washing or other treatment, for which the drivers 5 are also useful.

A feed device 7 can supply water to the treatment chamber 3 from a fresh water connection 6 connected to a network for the supply of water intended for human consumption (drinking water). The feed device 7 has an antechamber 8 with a cover 9 and a first supply line 10 connecting the fresh water connection 6 to the antechamber 8, wherein in the first supply line 10 there is an inlet valve arrangement comprising at least a first valve 11 and between the first valve 11 and the antechamber 8 a first air path 12 connected to the antechamber 8 is arranged. In the present case, the antechamber 8 is an induction chamber 8 with a dispensing chamber 8 arranged therein Figure 1 For the sake of clarity, a dispensing arrangement, not shown, in which a treatment agent, in this case in particular a detergent or fabric softener, can be added to the fresh water flowing through the treatment chamber 3. The first valve 11 can be seen here as a representative of a plurality or multiplicity of valves, which are used to sequentially flush in different amounts of treatment agents that can be presented in different chamber segments of the flushing arrangement. At least one transfer line 13 connecting the antechamber 8 with the treatment chamber 3 serves to supply the water to the treatment chamber 3. Through several transfer lines 13, water mixed with treatment agent can be directed to various points in the treatment chamber 3, in particular in order to even out the wetting of the material to be treated.

A pump-out line 14 together with a drain pump 15 arranged therein serves to remove water, washing liquor or rinsing liquor from the treatment chamber 3 after completion of a treatment and to dispose of it through a wastewater connection 16 into a network for disposing of wastewater.

The household appliance 1 also has a mist generator 17 for generating mist and supplying the mist to the treatment chamber 3. This mist generator 17 has a water tank 18 and is set up to generate a cold mist by using a Generating the cold mist set up ultrasonic transmitter 19 is arranged below a water level 20 in the water tank 18. The cold mist is a dispersion of the finest water droplets in air and is only created by the action of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound transmitter 19 on the water in the water tank 18, without a significant increase in the temperature of the water or the mist.

The fog generator 17 is connected to the fresh water connection 6 via a second supply line 21, which second supply line 21 has a second valve 22, and a second air path 23 is arranged in the second supply line 21 between the second valve 22 and the fog generator 17, which with the antechamber 8 is connected. In addition, the first valve arrangement and the second valve 22 are spatially connected to one another, in particular forming a uniform valve arrangement which includes all of the first valves 11 and the second valve 22. A drain line 24 and a drain valve 25 are provided to allow water remaining in the water tank 18 to flow into the pump-out line 14 after treatment.

The mist generator 17 and the treatment chamber 3 are connected to a circuit via a mist channel 26, the circuit being essentially self-contained. The mist channel 26 also has a fan 27, through which an air flow flowing in a main direction 28 can be formed in the circuit. The fan 27 is arranged upstream of the fog generator 17 with respect to the main direction 28. This reduces the exposure of the fan 26 to the mist. If necessary, the blower can also be set up to operate the air flow in a direction opposite to the main direction 28 in order to suck mist backwards from the treatment chamber 3.

In addition to the mist generator 17, a reactive gas generator 29 for generating a reactive gas with respect to the main direction 28 downstream of the blower 27 and upstream of the treatment chamber 3 and a reactive gas filter 30 for eliminating the reactive gas with respect to the main direction 28 are arranged upstream of the blower 27 and downstream of the treatment chamber 3 . The reactive gas generator 29 is designed to generate ozone as the reactive gas, and the reactive gas filter 30 is an activated carbon filter 30, on which the ozone decomposes if necessary. As a result, the material to be treated 2 can be treated with ozone, which is generated in the mist channel 26 in addition to the mist. The arrangement of the reactive gas generator 29 downstream of the fog generator 17 causes the reactive gas to be generated in an air stream enriched with the fog. Ozone is a very effective oxidizing agent, which For example, the breakdown of stubborn dirt and effective deodorization and disinfection of laundry items 2, separately from or in addition to other treatment processes such as washing and rinsing.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a second air gap 23 in the household appliance 1 according to Figure 1 . In the Figure 2 The invisible antechamber 8 is covered on its top by the lid 9, and the second air gap 23 is attached to the lid 9 and has a connection 31 to the antechamber 8 that penetrates the lid 9. The second air gap 23 is therefore a bulge in the cover 9, to which two first pipe sockets 32 are connected, to which the second supply line 21 is connected. The second air gap 23, the first pipe socket 32 and the cover 9 are formed in one piece, in particular by injection molding.

According to Figure 2 Within the air gap 23, the adjacent ends of the two first pipe sockets 32 are spaced apart by a certain distance, the corresponding distance being determined in accordance with the standard DIN EN 61770/A1 1:2018. According to the representation in Figure 1 fresh water flows through the air gap 23 from left to right. The fresh water emerges from the left first pipe socket 32 via the connection 31 and flies freely through the air for a short distance before then entering the right first pipe socket 32 and flowing to the fog generator 17. If the delivery pressure of the fresh water at the fresh water connection 6 is changed from positive to negative by a pressure surge, a suction develops in the second supply line 21, but this only continues as far as the second air gap 23 and there the free-flying jet of water between the ends of the first pipe socket 32 tears off. A return of fresh water from the second supply line 21 behind the second air path 23 is therefore excluded.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a vertical section through the water tank 18 in the household appliance Figure 1 . The second supply line 21 is connected to a second pipe socket 33, which lies below the water level 20, which is positioned as intended when the fog generator 17 is in operation, and thus protrudes into the area of the water tank 18 that is filled with water for operation. This prevents air enriched with mist and/or ozone from flowing out of the mist channel 26, according to Figure 1 the area of the water tank 18 that is not filled with water can reach the second air gap 23 and the antechamber 8. A barrier is therefore formed which separates the mist channel 26 from the antechamber 8.

In the household appliance 1 according to the invention, a safeguard against a backflow of water from the mist generator 17 is provided in the form of the second air gap 23, and this safeguard is connected to the first air gap 12, which represents a safeguard against the backflow of fresh water from the antechamber 8 Combined in such a way that both air gaps 12 and 23 are in connection with the interior of the antechamber 8 and thus with the interior of the treatment chamber 3. As a result, the second air gap 23 maintains the integrity of the system consisting of the fog generator 17 and the treatment chamber 3, and an uncontrolled escape of fog from the fog generator 17 or the treatment chamber 3 is avoided. In addition, there is always the same air pressure on both air paths 12 and 23. This means that both air gaps 12 and 23 respond in the same way in the event of suction back, and, particularly with such a common response, there can be no uncontrolled displacement of air or mist within the household appliance 1.

Reference symbol list

1

Household appliance, washing machine

2

Items to be treated, items of laundry

3

Treatment chamber

4

drum

5

taker

6

Fresh water connection

7

Feeding device

8th

antechamber

9

Lid

10

First lead

11

First valve

12

First air leg

13

Transition

14

Pump out line

15

Drain pump

16

Waste water connection

17

Fog generator

18

water tank

19

Ultrasonic transmitter

20

water level

21

Second supply line

22

Second valve

23

Second air route

24

Drain line

25

drain valve

26

Fog channel

27

fan

28

main direction

29

Reactive gas generator

30

Reactive gas filter

31

Connection

32

First pipe socket

33

Second pipe socket

Claims (17)

1. Household appliance (1) for treating items (2) to be treated comprising a treatment chamber (3) for receiving the items (2) to be treated, a supply facility (7) for supplying water from a fresh water connection (6) to the treatment chamber (3) and an atomizer (17) for generating mist and supplying the mist to the treatment chamber (3), wherein the supply facility (7) has a prechamber (8), a first supply line (10) connecting the fresh water connection (6) to the prechamber (8) and at least one connecting line (13) connecting the prechamber (8) to the treatment chamber (3), wherein an inlet valve arrangement comprising at least one first valve (11) is arranged in the first supply line (10) and a first air path (12) connected to the prechamber (8) is arranged between the first valve (11) and the prechamber (8), and wherein the atomizer (17) is connected to the fresh water connection (6) by way of a second supply line (21), which second supply line (21) has a second valve (22), characterised in that a second air path (23) is arranged in the second supply line (21) between the second valve (22) and the atomizer (17), said second air path being connected to the prechamber (8).
2. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1, in which the prechamber (8) is covered on a top side by a cover (8), and the second air path (23) is attached to the cover (9) and has a connection (31) to the prechamber (8) which penetrates the cover (9).
3. Household appliance (1) according to claim 2, in which the second air path (23) is a protrusion on the cover (9), to which two first pipe nozzles (32) are joined, to which the second supply line (21) is joined.
4. Household appliance (1) according to claim 3, in which the second air path (23), the first pipe nozzle (32) and the cover (9) are formed in one piece.
5. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which the first valve arrangement and the second valve (22) are connected spatially to one another.
6. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the atomizer (17) and the treatment chamber (3) are connected by way of a mist duct (26) to form a circuit.
7. Household appliance (1) according to claim 6, in which the circuit is essentially self-contained.
8. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 6 and 7, in which the mist duct (26) has a fan (27), by means of which an airflow flowing in a main direction (28) can be formed in the circuit.
9. Household appliance (1) according to claim 8, in which the fan (27) is arranged upstream of the atomizer (17) with respect to the main direction (28).
10. Household appliance (1) according to claim 9, in which a reactive gas generator (29) for generating a reactive gas is arranged in the circuit downstream of the fan (27) and upstream of the treatment chamber (3) with respect to the main direction (28), and a reactive gas filter (30) for eliminating the reactive gas is arranged in the circuit upstream of the fan (27) and downstream of the treatment chamber (3) with respect to the main direction (28).
11. Household appliance (1) according to claim 10, in which the reactive gas generator (29) is embodied to generate ozone as the reactive gas, and in which the reactive gas filter (30) is an active carbon filter (30).
12. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the atomizer (17) has a water tank (18) and is designed to generate a cold mist.
13. Household appliance (1) according to claim 12, in which an ultrasonic generator (19) designed to generate the cold mist is arranged in the water tank (18).
14. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a laundry care appliance (1) for treating items of laundry (2) as the items (2) to be treated.
15. Household appliance (1) according to claim 14, which is embodied to wash the items of laundry (2).
16. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 14 and 15, in which a rotatable and perforated drum (4) for receiving the items of laundry (2) is arranged in the treatment chamber (3).
17. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 14 to 16, in which the prechamber (8) has a dispenser arrangement, in which a treatment agent can be added to the fresh water flowing through to the treatment chamber (3).

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