EP4060108A1 - Laundry appliance with controls - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance (100) with a tub (105) for holding washing liquid, a washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying washing liquid into the tub (105), a laundry drum (107) for holding laundry, the laundry drum (107) is arranged in the tub (105), a weight determination device (123, 123-1) for determining a weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum (107), and a controller (119) which, in terms of control technology, is connected to the washing liquid supply device (118 -1) and the weight determination device (123, 123-1).The weight determination device (123, 123-1) is designed to determine a weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum (107) during a determination time period (132).The controller (119) is designed, during a base time period (133) following the determination time period (132), the Wasc activating the liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying a basic quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105). The controller (119) is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device (118-1) during a wetting time segment (135) following the basic time segment (133). for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105), the controller (119) being designed to determine the wetting quantity supplied during the wetting time segment (135) as a function of the determined weight of the laundry held in the laundry drum (107).

Description

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

In a conventional laundry care appliance, different methods are used to wet the laundry received in the laundry drum. In conventional laundry care devices, optimal wetting of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum cannot always be guaranteed, particularly if no information is available regarding the load quantity or the absorbency of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum.

In the WO 2006/097362 A1 discloses a wetting process for a washing machine.

It is the object on which the invention is based to specify a laundry care appliance which ensures advantageous wetting of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum.

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

According to a first aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a laundry care appliance with a tub for holding washing liquid, a washing liquid supply device for supplying washing liquid into the tub, a laundry drum for receiving laundry, with the laundry drum being arranged in the tub, a weight determination device for Determination of a weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum, and a controller which is connected in terms of control technology to the washing liquid supply device and the weight determination device, the weight determination device being designed to determine a weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum during a determination time period, the controller being designed , during a basic time period following the determination time period, the washing liquid supply device for supplying a basic amount of washing liquid into the tub, and wherein the controller is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub during a wetting period following the basic time section, the controller being designed to determine the wetting quantity supplied during the wetting period as a function to determine the specific weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum.

This achieves the technical advantage that particularly advantageous wetting of the laundry is ensured.

In particular, the weight determination device includes a weight detection device, which is designed to detect a weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum during the determination time segment. The weight detection device is thus designed in particular to detect the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum during the determination time segment, that is to say in particular to measure it by sensors.

Alternatively, the weight determination device includes in particular only one input element of the laundry care device, which can be actuated by a user of the laundry care device in order to enter the weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum, so that in this case the weight of the laundry is not itself measured by sensors by the laundry care device, but the weight is only made available to the control by the user through input.

In particular, the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum, determined by the weight determination device, includes the dry weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum. The dry weight includes the weight of the laundry before washing liquid, in particular laundry care substance and/or fresh water, has been supplied to the laundry by the washing liquid supply device. However, the term dry weight does not necessarily mean that the laundry placed in the laundry drum must be completely dry, so that the dry weight of the laundry can also refer to slightly damp laundry items that are placed in the laundry drum by the user in this state.

After the determination period, during the basic period, the washing liquid supply means is activated by the controller to supply a basic amount of washing liquid so that a basic basic amount of washing liquid is supplied to the tub. The basic amount of washing liquid is in particular independent of the weight of the laundry determined by the weight determination device and serves in particular only to flush the laundry care substance contained in the dispensing tray into the tub and to ensure initial wetting of the laundry contained in the laundry drum. Thus, the basic quantity of washing liquid supplied during the basic time period is constant, in particular in different load categories of the laundry care appliance, and is not varied when the laundry care appliance is loaded differently.

During the wetting period following the base time period, the washing liquid supply device is again activated by the controller for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid. In contrast to the base quantity, however, the wetting quantity of the washing liquid supplied during the wetting period depends on the weight of the laundry determined by the weight determination device, so that the specifically defined wetting quantity ensures load-dependent wetting of the laundry. The wetting quantity of washing liquid supplied during the wetting period is therefore different, in particular in different load categories, and is varied depending on the load quantity or weight of the laundry.

In contrast to the wetting phases carried out in conventional laundry care appliances, which are often controlled via the absorbency of the laundry, in the present invention the wetting quantity of washing liquid specifically adapted to the weight can be added at an early start of the washing phase, which increases the washing performance with the same program duration or whereby the program duration can be shortened with the same washing performance.

In addition, according to the present invention, less washing liquid is required, since the wetting quantity supplied is adjusted particularly precisely to the quantity of washing liquid actually required for effective wetting.

An unnecessary additional requirement for washing liquid can thus be avoided, as a result of which the required washing liquid and heating energy can be reduced in contrast to a conventional wetting process, as a result of which the laundry care appliance according to the present invention can be operated in a particularly resource-saving manner.

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

In an advantageous embodiment, the tub has a drain opening and a feed element, the laundry care appliance has a pump which is fluidically connected to the drain opening and the feed element and is designed to pump washing liquid out of the drain opening and to feed the pumped-off washing liquid back to the tub through the feed element in order to pump around the washing liquid, and the controller is designed to activate the pump for pumping around washing liquid during the base time section and/or during the wetting time section.

This achieves the technical advantage that particularly effective wetting of the laundry can be ensured by pumping the washing liquid around during the basic time segment and/or during the wetting time segment.

In an advantageous embodiment, the controller is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device and the pump simultaneously during the wetting period, or the controller is designed to activate the pump with a time delay after the activation of the washing liquid supply device during the wetting period.

This achieves the technical advantage that the point of impact of the washing liquid impinging on the laundry can advantageously be adjusted.

Simultaneously activating the pump and the washing liquid supply device during the wetting period results in an immediate and direct wetting of the laundry by means of the washing liquid pumped around via the supply element.

If the pump is activated with a time delay after the washing liquid supply device, the washing liquid supplied by the washing liquid supply device is initially supplied via the drum shell of the laundry drum and wets the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum at a different position than when the washing liquid is pumped around via the pump.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a fill level sensor for detecting a fill level of washing liquid in the tub, the controller being designed to end the wetting time segment if the washing liquid fill level detected during the wetting time segment exceeds a fill level threshold value.

This achieves the technical advantage that when the detected fill level reaches the fill level threshold value, it can advantageously indicate an end point of the wetting time segment at which the laundry is sufficiently wetted.

In an advantageous embodiment, the controller is designed to determine the duration of the wetting period as a function of the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum and/or as a function of the detected level of washing liquid.

This achieves the technical advantage that a particularly advantageous optimization of the duration of the wetting time segment is made possible.

In an advantageous embodiment, the base amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub during the base time period is determined independently of the weight of the laundry held in the laundry drum.

This achieves the technical advantage that the base quantity is the same for different laundry loads, so that a simplified supply of the base quantity is ensured becomes. The basic quantity is only used to flush laundry care substance from the dispensing tray into the tub, or to initially wet the laundry with washing liquid. In particular, the base amount supplied during the base period is less than the wetting amount supplied during the wetting period.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tub has a heating device for heating the washing liquid contained in the tub, and the controller is designed to activate the heating device for heating the washing liquid contained in the tub during the wetting period.

This achieves the technical advantage that early activation of the heating element during the wetting phase allows the temperature of the washing liquid to be increased even before the start of the washing phase of the laundry care program, thereby reducing the overall duration of the laundry care program.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a drum drive for rotating the laundry drum, and the controller is designed to activate the drum drive for rotating the laundry drum during the basic time segment and/or during the wetting period, in particular to rotate the laundry drum alternately in both directions of rotation .

This achieves the technical advantage that particularly advantageous wetting of the laundry can be achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a drum drive for rotating the laundry drum, and the controller is designed to activate the drum drive for rotating the laundry drum at an ejection speed during an expulsion time segment following the wetting time segment in order to expel washing liquid bound to the laundry.

This achieves the technical advantage that at the end of the wetting phase, part of the washing liquid bound to the laundry can be expelled again and taken up in the tub.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a fill level sensor for detecting a fill level of washing liquid in the tub, and the controller is designed to end the expulsion time period when the detected fill level of washing liquid exceeds a fill level threshold value, and/or the controller is designed while to activate the washing liquid supply device for supplying a post-wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub in a post-wetting period following the expulsion period if the detected level of washing liquid after the expulsion period falls below a level threshold value.

This achieves the technical advantage that the completion of the wetting phase can be effectively monitored as a function of the fill level detected by the fill level sensor. If the recorded fill level exceeds the fill level threshold value, the expulsion time section can be ended immediately by the controller.

Alternatively, the expulsion period can also be terminated by the controller after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

If the detected filling level falls below the filling level threshold value after the expulsion time segment, the controller recognizes that possibly not enough washing liquid has been supplied to the laundry and allows the laundry to be re-wetted by supplying the re-wetting quantity of washing liquid.

In particular, the controller is designed to activate the drum drive for rotating the laundry drum and/or the pump for pumping around washing liquid during the post-wetting time segment.

In particular, the controller is designed to end or repeat the post-wetting period as a function of a level of washing liquid in the tub that is detected after the post-wetting period.

In an advantageous embodiment, the weight determination device comprises a weighing system for weighing the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum, a device for detecting a deflection of an oscillating system of the laundry drum, and/or a power detection element for detecting an electrical power value of a drum drive of the laundry drum.

This achieves the technical advantage that a particularly effective detection of the weight of the laundry is ensured.

According to a second aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for wetting laundry in a laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance having a tub for holding washing liquid, a washing liquid supply device for supplying washing liquid into the tub, a laundry drum for holding laundry, the laundry drum is arranged in the tub, has a weight determining device for determining a weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum, and a controller which is connected to the washing liquid supply device and the weight determining device in terms of control technology, the method comprising the following method steps, determining a weight of the laundry received by the weight determination device during a determination period of time, activating the washing liquid supply device for supplying a basic quantity of washing liquid liquid into the tub by the controller during a base period following the determination period, and activating the washing liquid supply device for supplying a wetting amount of washing liquid into the tub by the controller during a wetting period following the base period, the controller determining the wetting amount as a function of the weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum.

This achieves the technical advantage that advantageous wetting of the laundry is ensured.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a drum drive for rotating the laundry drum, and the method has the additional method step of activating the drum drive by the controller during an expulsion time segment that follows the wetting period, in order to rotate the laundry drum at an expulsion speed and to Drive out washing liquid bound to laundry.

This achieves the technical advantage that the washing liquid expelled from the laundry can be used for further analyses.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry care appliance has a fill level sensor for detecting a fill level of washing liquid in the tub, the method comprising the following method step, deactivating the drum drive by the controller in order to end the expulsion period of time if the detected fill level of washing liquid exceeds a fill level threshold value , or wherein the method comprises the following method step activating the washing liquid supply device by the controller during a post-wetting period following the expulsion period in order to supply a post-wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub if the detected level of washing liquid after the expulsion period falls below a level threshold value.

This achieves the technical advantage that, depending on the level of washing liquid detected in the tub, the wetting period can be ended either when the washing is completely wetted, or when the washing is not yet completely wetted, a further quantity of washing liquid can be added during the subsequent post-wetting period can be added to the laundry for re-wetting.

In an advantageous embodiment, the base amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub during the base time period is determined independently of the weight of the laundry held in the laundry drum.

The embodiments identified as advantageous embodiments for the laundry care appliance according to the first aspect are also advantageous embodiments for the method according to the second aspect.

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

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts mit einer Steuerung;

Fig. 3

eine graphische Darstellung eines Wäschebenetzungsvorgangs gemäß einem ersten, zweiten, dritten und vierten Ausführungsbeispiel; und

Fig. 4

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

Show it:

1

a schematic view of a laundry care appliance;

2

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

3

a graphical representation of a laundry wetting process according to a first, second, third and fourth embodiment; and

4

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

1 12 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 includes a dispensing tray 101 into which the laundry care substance, in particular detergent or other liquid substances, can be filled. The laundry care appliance 100 has an appliance housing 102 . The laundry care appliance 100 includes an appliance door 103 for loading the laundry care appliance 100 with laundry.

2 shows a schematic view of a laundry care appliance with a controller. The laundry care appliance 100 has a tub 105 for holding washing liquid, and has a laundry drum 107 for holding laundry. The laundry drum 107 is arranged in the tub 105 . The laundry care appliance 100 has a drum drive 109 for rotating the laundry drum 107 . The tub 105 has a drain opening 111 . The laundry care appliance 100 has a feed element 113 . The discharge opening 111 is fluidically connected to the feed element 113 by a liquid line 115, wherein in the liquid line 115 a pump 117 for pumping washing liquid through the liquid line 115 is arranged.

The pump 117 pumps washing liquid through the drain opening 111 from the tub 105 during an in 2 not shown pumping pump into the liquid line 115 and the washing liquid through the liquid line 115 and through the feed element 113 to the tub 105 and the laundry drum 107 out again. As a result, the washing liquid can be pumped around effectively through the liquid line 115 during a laundry care process and can be fed back to the laundry in the laundry drum 107 .

The laundry care appliance 100 has a washing liquid supply device 118-1 for supplying washing liquid into the tub 105, the washing liquid supply device 118-1 being connected to the tub 105 by a supply line 118-2.

In particular, the washing liquid supply device 118-1 comprises an in 2 flushing tray 101, not shown, of the laundry care appliance 100 and/or an in 2 non-illustrated fresh water connection of the laundry care appliance 100, wherein the controller 119 is designed to activate a wash suds feed via the dispensing bowl 101 and/or the fresh water connection in order to feed wash suds and/or fresh water into the laundry drum 107 as washing liquid.

The laundry care appliance 100 also includes a controller 119 which is connected to the pump 117, which is connected to the drum drive 109 and to the washing liquid supply device 118-1 by a control connection 121 in each case.

The laundry care appliance 100 also has a weight determination device 123 for determining the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum 107, in particular a weight detection device 123 for detecting the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum 107, i.e. for measuring the weight of the laundry in the laundry drum 107 by sensors.

The one in the 2 The illustrated weight determination device 123 or weight detection device 123 has in particular a power detection element 123-1 for detecting an electrical power value of the drum drive 109. In particular, the power detection element 123-1 is designed to detect a torque-generating current intensity and/or an electrical power consumption of the drum drive 109 as an electrical power value of the drum drive 109. In particular, the weight determination device 123, in particular the power detection element 123-1, is designed to determine a weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum 107 as a function of the detected electrical power value of the drum drive 109.

In particular, the power detection element 123 - 1 is arranged in the controller 119 . Alternatively, the power detection element 123-1 can be arranged in particular outside of the controller 119, as in FIG 2 is not shown. Alternatively, the power detection element 123 - 1 can be arranged in particular within the drum drive 109 .

Even if this in the 2 is not shown, the weight determining device 123 can alternatively or additionally comprise a weighing system for weighing the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum 107 and/or alternatively or additionally comprise a device for detecting a deflection of an oscillating system of the laundry drum 107.

Alternatively, however, the weight determination device 123 can only include an input element of the laundry care appliance 100, via which the user can enter the weight of the laundry without the weight determination device 123 measuring the weight of the laundry 107 in the laundry drum 107 itself.

The laundry care appliance 100 also includes an outlet line 125 which is fluidically connected to the liquid line 115 . The pump 117 is formed during an in 2 Not shown pumping out washing liquid through the drain opening 111 from the tub 105, through the liquid line 115 and through the outlet line 125 from the laundry care appliance 100 to be pumped.

The laundry care appliance 100 also has, in particular, an in 2 Level sensor not shown for detecting a level of washing liquid in the tub 105 on.

The laundry care appliance 100 also has, in particular, a 2 heating device, not shown, for heating the washing liquid contained in the tub 105 .

3 shows a graphic representation of laundry wetting processes according to a first, second, third and fourth exemplary embodiment.

Like in the 3 As shown, the first embodiment A includes rows A1, A2, and A3, the second embodiment B includes rows B1, B2, and B3, the third embodiment C includes rows C1, C2, and C3, and the fourth embodiment D includes rows D1, D2 and D3.

3 shows, according to the first, second, third and fourth exemplary embodiments A, B, C and D, a time representation of a rotational speed of the laundry drum 107 (see the respective first curves 141 in lines A1, B1, C1 and D1), one through a washing liquid supply device 118 -1 amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub 105 (see the respective second curves 143 in lines A2, B2, C2 and D2) and an activation of the pump 117 for pumping around washing liquid (see the respective third curves 145 in lines A3, B3 , C3 and D3) plotted along the axis of ordinates 127 versus time indicated along the axis of abscissas 129.

The in 3 laundry wetting processes illustrated according to the first, second, third and fourth exemplary embodiments A, B, C and D each have a determination time section 132, a basic time section 133 following determination time section 132, a wetting time section 135 following basic time section 133, and a wetting time section following the wetting time section 135 subsequent expulsion period 137.

Only the fourth exemplary embodiment D additionally has a post-wetting time section 139 following the expulsion time section 137 .

The one in the 3 The first curves 141 shown show the progression over time of the speed of a laundry drum 107 rotated by a drum drive 109. During the determination time segment 132, the weight determination device 123, in particular the power detection element 123-1, is designed on the basis of a detected electrical power value of the drum drive 109 to calculate a weight of the Laundry drum 107 to determine laundry received (see rows A1, B1, C1 and D1).

The base time section 133 follows the determination time section 132 . The controller 119 activates the wash liquid supply means 118-1 during the base period 133 to supply a base quantity of wash liquid into the tub 105 (see lines A2, B2, C2 and D2).

The one in the 3 The second curves 143 shown show the course over time of the washing liquid fed into the tub 105 by the washing liquid feed device 118-1.

The supply of the basic amount of washing liquid during the basic time segment 133 is used in particular to introduce laundry care substance from the dispensing tray 101 into the tub 105 and also ensures that the laundry held in the laundry drum 107 is initially wetted with washing liquid.

The basic quantity of washing liquid supplied to the tub 105 during the basic time segment 133 is determined, in particular, independently of the weight of the laundry accommodated in the washing drum 107 .

In particular, the controller 119 also activates the pump 117 for circulating washing liquid during the base period 133 (see lines A3, B3, C3 and D3). The wetting of the laundry is further improved by pumping the washing liquid around. The one in the 3 The third curves 145 shown here show the course over time of the water pumped out of the tub 105 through the drain opening 111 by the pump 117 and through the inlet element 113 to the tub 105 washing liquid supplied again in the context of a pumping process.

The wetting time section 135 follows the base time section 133 . During the wetting period 135, the controller 119 activates the washing liquid supply device 118-1 to supply a wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub 105 (see lines A2, B2, C2 and D2), with the controller 119 being designed to adjust the wetting quantity as a function of the determined weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum 107 .

The wetting quantity of washing liquid supplied to the tub 105 during the wetting time segment 135 can thus be optimally adapted to the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum 107 determined by the weight determination device 123, in particular power detection element 123-1.

In particular, the laundry care appliance 100 has a filling level sensor which is designed to detect a filling level of washing liquid in the tub 105 . The controller 119 is designed in particular to end the wetting time section 135 when the detected fill level of washing liquid exceeds a liquid threshold value.

Exceeding the filling level threshold value by the detected filling level indicates advantageous wetting of the laundry, since the detected filling level or the filling level threshold value of washing liquid in the tub 105 is directly related to the absorbency of the laundry, the controller 119 can by detecting the level of the washing liquid determine the textile types of the laundry. Thus, an end point for the wetting period 135 can be effectively established.

For example, the smaller amount of laundry in the laundry drum 107 in the first exemplary embodiment A compared to the second exemplary embodiment B results in a shorter wetting period 135 compared to the second exemplary embodiment B (see exemplary embodiments A and B), since due to the more favorable drum conditions allow the laundry to be moistened faster in embodiment A than in embodiment B.

In particular, the laundry drum 107 is rotated during the wetting time segment 135, in particular rotated alternately in both directions of rotation (see lines A1, B1, C1 and D1).

The expulsion time section 137 follows the wetting time section 135 . As can be seen from lines A1, B1, C1 and D1 of the first, second, third and fourth exemplary embodiments A, B, C and D, the controller 119 activates the drum drive 109 during the ejection time segment 137 in order to close the laundry drum 107 at an ejection speed Rotate to expel washing liquid bound to the laundry.

As a result, part of the washing liquid bound to the laundry is expelled from the laundry again due to the centrifugal force acting. The amount of washing liquid released in this way can be determined in particular by means of a level sensor for detecting the level of washing liquid in the tub 105 . The controller 119 is designed to determine an expulsion quantity of washing liquid expelled from the laundry during the expulsion time segment 137 as a function of the detected fill level of washing liquid.

In particular, the controller 119 is designed to end the expulsion time section 137 according to the second exemplary embodiment B when the detected filling level of washing liquid exceeds a filling level threshold value (see line B2).

If the detected filling level of washing liquid falls below a filling level threshold value after the expulsion time segment 137, the controller 119 is alternatively designed according to the first exemplary embodiment A to activate the washing liquid supply device 118-1 for supplying a further quantity of washing liquid into the tub 105 (see line A2).

By supplying the further amount of washing liquid according to the first exemplary embodiment A, it can be ensured that after the process there is a minimum amount of washing liquid in the tub 105 which is sufficient so that a heating element arranged on the underside of the tub 105 is sufficiently covered with washing liquid.

This in 3 illustrated third exemplary embodiment C differs from that in 3 illustrated second embodiment B by a larger amount of laundry in the laundry drum 107, whereby the duration of the wetting period 135 in the third embodiment C increases.

By comparing the third curves 145 in the 3 illustrated second exemplary embodiment B and in the third exemplary embodiment C, different activation times of the pump 117 can be determined.

According to the third curve 145 in the in 3 In the second exemplary embodiment B shown, pump 117 for pumping around the washing liquid is activated at the same time as washing liquid supply device 118-1 for supplying washing liquid, so that the washing liquid supplied is pumped around at the same time by pump 117 and is thus injected centrally into the laundry.

According to the third curve 145 in the in 3 illustrated third exemplary embodiment C, the pump 117 is only activated with a time delay after the activation of the washing liquid supply device 118-1, so that the washing liquid supplied is first supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum 107 via the drum casing before pumping takes place, so that the point of impact of the the laundry conducted washing liquid is varied.

This in 3 fourth exemplary embodiment D illustrated reveals a further case in which there is a low level of washing liquid in the tub 105 after the end of the expulsion time segment 137, for example because a large amount of laundry and/or particularly absorbent laundry is present in the laundry drum 107.

How from the in 3 illustrated fourth exemplary embodiment D, the expulsion time section 137 is followed by an additional post-wetting time section 139, during which the controller 119 uses the washing liquid supply device 118-1 to supply a post-wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub 105 activated when the detected fill level of washing liquid falls below a fill level threshold value after the expulsion time section 137 .

The controller 119 is designed to activate the drum drive 109 for rotating the laundry drum 107 and/or the pump 117 for pumping around washing liquid during the post-wetting time segment 139 (see lines D1 and D3).

In summary, it can be stated that the amount of washing liquid required for the washing process is determined directly as a function of the weight of the laundry in the laundry drum 107 determined by the weight determination device 123, in particular the power detection element 123-1.

In contrast to conventional methods, in which an attempt is made to determine the optimal wetting quantity indirectly via the absorbency of the laundry, the load-specific quantity of washing liquid can be provided at the beginning of the wetting phase, resulting in the following advantages.

The wetting phase is shorter, which means that the washing phase that follows the wetting phase can be started earlier, which means that the washing performance can be increased during the washing phase with the same program duration, or the program duration can be shortened with the same washing performance during the washing phase.

Furthermore, a smaller quantity of washing liquid is required for wetting the laundry, since no minimum level of standing washing liquid has to be kept in the tub 105, as is the case with conventional washing machines. Due to the smaller amount of washing liquid, the energy requirement for heating the smaller amount of washing liquid is also reduced. In addition, the washing liquid can be heated at an earlier time in the program, whereby an improvement in washing performance can be ensured.

4 shows a schematic representation of a method for wetting laundry in a laundry care appliance.

As a first method step, the method 200 comprises the determination 201 of a weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum 107 by the weight determination device 123, 123-1 during a determination time segment 132.

As a second method step, the method 200 comprises the activation 203 of the washing liquid supply device 118-1 for supplying a basic quantity of washing liquid into the tub 105 and the pump 117 for pumping around washing liquid by the controller 119 during a basic time period 133 following the determination time period 132,

The method 200 comprises, as a third method step, the activation 205 of the washing liquid supply device 118-1 for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub 105 by the controller 119 during a wetting period 135 following the basic period 133, with the controller 119 determining the wetting quantity as a function of the weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum 107 is determined.

As an optional fourth method step, the method 200 includes the activation 207 of the drum drive 109 by the controller 119 during an expulsion time section 137 following the wetting time section 135 in order to rotate the laundry drum 107 at an expulsion speed and to expel washing liquid bound to the laundry.

The method 200 includes, as an optional fifth method step, the deactivation 209-1 of the drum drive 109 by the controller 119 in order to end the expulsion time section 137 if the detected fill level of washing liquid exceeds a fill level threshold value, or the method 200 includes, as an optional sixth method step, the activation 209 -2 of the washing liquid supply device 118-1 by the controller 119 during a post-wetting period 139 following the expulsion period 137, in order to supply a post-wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub 105 if the detected level of washing liquid after the expulsion period 137 falls below a threshold value.

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

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

Reference List

100

laundry care device

101

dispenser bowl

102

device housing

103

appliance door

105

tub

107

laundry drum

109

drum drive

111

drain hole

113

feeding element

115

liquid line

117

pump

118-1

washing liquid supply device

118-2

supply line

119

steering

121

control connection

123

weight determination device

123-1

performance recording element

125

outlet line

127

ordinate axis

129

abscissa axis

132

determination period

133

base period

135

wetting period

137

expulsion period

139

post-wetting period

141

First curve

143

Second curve

145

Third curve

200

Process for wetting laundry

201

First method step: determining a weight of laundry

203

Second method step: activating the washing liquid supply device for supplying a basic quantity of washing liquid

205

Third method step: activation of the washing liquid supply device for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid

207

Fourth step: Activation of the drum drive

209-1

Fifth step: deactivating the drum drive

209-2

Sixth method step: activating the washing liquid supply device for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid

Claims (15)

Laundry care appliance (100) with a tub (105) for holding washing liquid, a washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying washing liquid into the tub (105), a laundry drum (107) for holding laundry, the laundry drum (107) in is arranged in the tub (105), a weight determination device (123, 123-1) for determining the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum (107), and a controller (119) which, in terms of control technology, is connected to the washing liquid supply device (118-1) and the Weight determination device (123, 123-1) is connected, characterized in that the weight determination device (123, 123-1) is designed to determine a weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum (107) during a determination time segment (132) such that the controller (119) is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying a basic quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105) during a basic time period (133) following the determination time period (132), and that the controller (119) is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105) during a wetting time section (135) following the basic time section (133), the controller (119) is designed to determine the amount of wetting supplied during the wetting period (135) as a function of the specific weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum (107). Laundry care appliance (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tub (105) has a drain opening (111) and a feed element (113), that the laundry care appliance (100) has a pump (117) which is fluidically connected to the drain opening (111 ) and the feed element (113) and is designed to pump washing liquid out of the drain opening (111) and to feed the pumped washing liquid back to the tub (105) through the feed element (113) in order to pump around the washing liquid, and that the Controller (119) is designed to activate the pump (117) for pumping around washing liquid during the base time segment (133) and/or during the wetting time segment (135). Laundry care appliance (100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the controller (119) is designed to activate the washing liquid supply device (118-1) and the pump (117) at the same time during the wetting time segment (135), or that the controller (119) is designed to activate the pump (117) with a time delay after the activation of the washing liquid supply device (118-1) during the wetting time segment (135). Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a fill level sensor for detecting a fill level of washing liquid in the tub (105), the controller (119) being designed to limit the wetting time segment (135). end when the level of washing liquid detected during the wetting period (135) exceeds a level threshold value. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (119) is designed to determine the duration of the wetting period (135) as a function of the weight of the laundry accommodated in the laundry drum (107) and/or as a function of the level detected of washing liquid to be determined. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base amount of washing liquid supplied to the tub (105) during the base time period (133) is determined independently of the weight of the laundry held in the laundry drum (107). Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tub (105) has a heating device for heating the washing liquid contained in the tub (105) and in that the controller (119) is designed during the wetting period (135) to activate the heating device for heating the washing liquid contained in the tub (105). Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a drum drive (109) for rotating the laundry drum (107), and in that the controller (119) is designed, during the base time segment (133) and /or during the wetting period (135) to activate the drum drive (109) to rotate the laundry drum (107), in particular to rotate the laundry drum (107) alternately in both directions of rotation. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a drum drive (109) for rotating the laundry drum (107), and in that the controller (119) is designed during a wetting period ( 135) the subsequent expulsion period (137) to activate the drum drive (109) for rotating the laundry drum (107) at an expulsion speed in order to expel washing liquid bound to the laundry. Laundry care appliance (100) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a fill level sensor for detecting a fill level of washing liquid in the tub (105), and in that the controller (119) is designed to end the expulsion time segment (137). , if the detected filling level of washing liquid exceeds a filling level threshold value, and/or that the controller (119) is designed, during a post-wetting time segment (139) following the expulsion time segment (137), the washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying a post-wetting quantity of washing liquid to activate in the tub (105) when the detected level of washing liquid after the expulsion period (137) falls below a level threshold. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight determination device (123, 123-1) has a weighing system for weighing the laundry received in the laundry drum (107), a device for detecting a deflection of an oscillating system of the laundry drum (107), and/or a power detection element (123-1) for detecting an electrical power value of a drum drive (109) of the laundry drum (107). Method (200) for wetting laundry in a laundry care appliance (100), the laundry care appliance (100) having a tub (105) for holding washing liquid, a washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying washing liquid into the tub (105), a Laundry drum (107) for receiving laundry, the laundry drum (107) being arranged in the tub (105), a weight determination device (123, 123-1) for determining a weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum (107), and a controller (119), which is connected in terms of control technology to the washing liquid supply device (118-1) and the weight determination device (123, 123-1), characterized in that the method (200) comprises the following method steps, Determination (201) of a weight of the laundry received in the laundry drum (107) by the weight determination device (123, 123-1) during a determination time segment (132), activating (203) the washing liquid supply device (118-1) to supply a basic quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105) by the controller (119) during a basic time period (133) following the determination time period (132), and Activation (205) of the washing liquid supply device (118-1) for supplying a wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105) by the controller (119) during a wetting period (135) following the basic period (133), the controller (119) determines the amount of wetting as a function of the weight of the laundry held in the laundry drum (107). Method (200) according to Claim 12, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a drum drive (109) for rotating the laundry drum (107), and that the method has the further method step: activating (207) the drum drive (109) by the controller (119) during a an expulsion time section (137) following the wetting time section (135) in order to rotate the laundry drum (107) at an expulsion speed and to expel washing liquid bound to the laundry. Method (200) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a level sensor for detecting a level of washing liquid in the tub (105), the method (200) comprising the following method step: Deactivation (209-1) of the drum drive (109) by the controller (119) in order to end the expulsion time section (137) if the detected fill level of washing liquid exceeds a fill level threshold value, or wherein the method (200) comprises the following method step:
Activation (209-2) of the washing liquid supply device (118-1) by the controller (119) during a post-wetting period (139) following the expulsion period (137) in order to supply a post-wetting quantity of washing liquid into the tub (105) when the detected Filling level of washing liquid after the expulsion period (137) falls below a filling level threshold value. Method (200) according to Claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the basic quantity of washing liquid supplied to the tub (105) during the base time segment (133) is determined independently of the weight of the washing received in the washing drum (107).

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