KR20240001224A - Washing machines, devices and methods for sanitary treatment of fabrics in washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (200) for the sanitary treatment of fabrics in a washing machine, the method (200) comprising the step of receiving (210) an end signal, the end signal indicating the end of the wash program of the washing machine. . The method 200 may also include reading 215 a door contact signal and, if it is recognized using the door contact signal that the door has not been opened within a predefined time period that begins in response to the end signal, A step 225 of providing a start option signal to the user interface to provide the user with a selection option for starting a rinse program, wherein the door contact signal indicates the state of the door of the washing machine.

Description

Washing machines, devices and methods for sanitary treatment of fabrics in washing machines

The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and washing machine for sanitary treatment of fabric in a washing machine.

It is useful to quickly remove the washed clothes from the washing machine after the wash program has been performed. However, sometimes this is not possible for the user of the washing machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method, an improved device and an improved washing machine for the sanitary treatment of clothes in a washing machine.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method, an apparatus and a washing machine for sanitary treatment of cloth in a washing machine having the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims that follow.

In addition to saving resources, the benefits that can be achieved with the present invention are that there is additional sanitization of the fabric after the wash cycle.

A method for sanitizing fabric in a washing machine is presented, the method comprising receiving an end signal, the end signal indicating the end of a wash program of the washing machine. The method may also include reading a door contact signal and selecting to initiate a sanitary rinse program when non-opening of the door is recognized using the door contact signal within a predefined time period beginning in response to the end signal. and providing a start option signal to a user interface to provide options to the user, wherein the door contact signal indicates a state of the door of the washing machine.

For example, the washing machine may be a washing machine for a private household that washes, for example, 3 to 6 laundry batches per week, depending on the size of the household. In this case, the washing machine may include intelligent electronic laundry management with options such as, for example, so-called start pre-selection or intelligent use of networked washing machines via an app controller. As a result, the user has the advantage of being able to plan the wash cycle advantageously so that the laundry can be taken out immediately after the end of the wash program, even when professional activity increases. Despite this washing care, there are cases where wet clothes remain idle in the washing machine for an undesirably long idle time after the end of the wash program, for example because the laundry has been forgotten or cannot be removed for other reasons. In this case, if the laundry is not taken out of the washing machine in time, a subjective perception of laundry odor indicating an unhygienic condition may occur. In order to avoid a long idle time of the fabric and the subsequent start of another extensive washing program using additional resources, the method presented here advantageously provides the opportunity to re-process the fabric in a resource-saving manner.

For this purpose, an end signal indicating the end of the wash program is received after the end of the wash program, for example by means of an electronic device of the washing machine designed for this purpose. In response to the end signal, a counter can then be started, whereby, for example, a predefined time limit can be detected. Additionally, a door contact signal is read, which indicates the status of the door of the washing machine. For example, the closed state of a door can be detected through a door contact signal. Thus, for example, when a user removes clothes or a load from a washing machine, it can be detected whether the door is open. If the door is not opened within a predefined time limit, a start option signal is provided, giving the user the option to start an additional hygiene rinse program. This selection option may be displayed, for example, on the display of the washing machine or on an app on a mobile device networked with the washing machine. Advantageously, this allows the user, on the one hand, to recall the load status of the washing machine and, on the other hand, to start a resource-saving treatment program for fabric treatment, which can also be referred to as a hygienic rinse. Overall, intelligent hygienic rinsing gives washing machine operators the ability to hygienically remove laundry even after longer idle times. As a result of sanitary rinsing, laundry can be processed using minimal resources and provided in a freshly washed condition. Subjective feelings of odor and contamination can be eliminated.

According to one embodiment, in the reading step, the door contact signal may be read by a door contact sensor disposed on the door through the door interface. For example, a door contact sensor can detect whether a door is open or closed and provide this information. Advantageously, via a contact sensor it can be detected in a reliable and cost-effective manner whether the washing machine door is open.

According to a further embodiment, the method may include the additional step of setting the time limit using a setting signal, which may indicate the duration of the time limit set through the user interface. For example, via an input device on the washing machine, such as a display with touch functionality, or in an app on a mobile device, the user can specify how long the fabric can remain idle in the washing machine after a wash program. For example, a time limit of up to two hours may be set, and a start option signal may be provided only if the door is not opened after this time limit has elapsed. Advantageously, the method can therefore be individually adapted to the needs and requirements of the user.

According to a further embodiment, the method may have the additional step of outputting a start signal for starting a sanitary rinse program. This step may be performed in response to a confirmation signal read through the user interface, which may indicate a selection made by the user to initiate the sanitary rinse program. For example, in the providing step, the user may be provided with a selection option to start a hygiene rinse program with a yes/no query, for example in an app. If the user confirms this option, for example by tapping “Yes,” a confirmation signal may be output, and in response to this confirmation signal, a sanitary rinse program may be started. As a result, advantageously, the fabric can be processed directly in the washing machine without time delay.

Additionally, in the output step, the start signal for starting the sanitary rinse program may be output in the form of an additional rinse cycle or a water-reduced rinse cycle depending on the wash program. For example, a distinction can be made between additional rinse cycles, which appropriately correspond to the rinses of a completed program, and water-reduced rinse cycles, also referred to as “Spin & Spray”. In this case, for example in a water-reduction rinse cycle, a start signal can only be provided to the drives and pumps of the washing drum of the washing machine, for example to enable the use of a recirculation function that does not require additional water. Advantageously, the treatment of the fabric can thereby be optimally adapted to the given washing situation.

According to a further embodiment, the method may include adjusting the sequence of sanitary rinse cycles using a wash program signal, where the wash program signal may represent program information for a wash program. For example, the subsequent process of sanitary rinsing may be based on a completed wash program. Depending on the washing program settings, such as program selection, options and additional items, and the information obtained in the process, such as the amount of laundry, load, water and energy consumption, number of rinse cycles, residual moisture or program duration, subsequent Sanitary rinsing can be adapted from a process engineering perspective. In this case, the sanitary rinse cycle can have various variations, for example. For example, in the case of a load of laundry of 6.4 kg and a program duration of 2.39 hours, after setting the "Cotton" wash program and the additional "Water+" at a temperature of 60 ° C, variant A ( A hygienic rinse cycle with variant A) can be started, which corresponds to the rinse cycle from the "Cotton" program and can have a similar water level. Likewise, in the case of a load of laundry of 0.2 kg and a program duration of 39 minutes, after the additional settings of the “Delicate” wash program and “Single Wash” at a temperature of 30 ° C, variant B B) A hygienic rinse cycle with Quantity of laundry, in the case of a program duration of 3.59 hours, with variant C, after the washing program "Cotton Hygiene" and the additional setting "Allergowash" at a temperature of 75 ° C. A hygienic rinse cycle can be started, which corresponds to the rinse cycle of the "Cotton" program and can have a similar water level. Advantageously, by adjusting this hygienic rinse cycle, the water and energy consumption is reduced in each case. It can be optimally adjusted to the fabrics to be treated.

According to a further embodiment, in the receiving step, the end signal may indicate the end of the anti-wrinkle program. For example, 30 minutes of wrinkle prevention can for example be added to the actual wash program, during which the fabric can be spun in the washing drum at a lower speed than during the main wash cycle. In this case, wrinkle prevention can be considered the final part of the washing program. In this case, the end signal may be provided only after this anti-wrinkle program has ended, or the duration of the anti-wrinkle program may be added to the time limit for waiting for the door to be opened. This has the advantage that fabrics can be treated optimally even if an anti-wrinkle program is added to the actual washing program.

According to a further embodiment, in the providing step, a start option signal may be provided on a user interface that may be disposed on the washing machine and, additionally or alternatively, may be disposed on a mobile device. For example, the user interface can be placed directly on the washing machine in the form of a display with touch functionality, a rotary toggle or one or more buttons, or it can be designed as part of an app and thus more remote. Machines can be controlled even from a distance. Advantageously, the user can therefore directly influence the desired washing machine sequence.

The approach presented herein also creates a device designed to perform, control or implement, in a corresponding device, variant steps of the method presented herein. The object underlying the invention can also be achieved quickly and efficiently by this variant embodiment of the invention in device form.

The device may be designed to read input signals and use the input signals to determine and provide output signals. The input signal may represent, for example, a sensor signal that can be read through an input interface of the device. The output signal may represent a control signal or a data signal that may be provided to an output interface of the device. The device may be designed to determine output signals using processing rules implemented in hardware or software. For example, the device may comprise logic circuits, integrated switching circuits or software modules for this purpose and may, for example, be implemented as or consist of individual components.

Additionally, a washing machine with a hygienic rinse program and a variant of the device presented above are presented. Advantageously, all the previously mentioned advantages can be optimally realized by this combination.

Although the described approach is described on a consumer electronics basis, the devices/methods described herein may relate to and be used as appropriate in commercial or professional devices.

Also advantageous are computer program products or computer programs having program code that can be stored in a machine-readable carrier or storage medium, such as semiconductor memory, hard disk memory or optical memory. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or device, the program product or program can be used to perform, implement and/or control steps of a method according to one of the embodiments described above.

Embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In the drawing:
Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment. and
Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment.

In the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present approach, the same or similar reference numerals are used for similarly functioning elements that are shown in the various figures, and repeated descriptions of these elements are omitted.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a washing machine 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The washing machine 100 includes a device 105 for controlling a method for sanitizing the cloth 110 after a washing program performed by the washing machine 100. For this purpose, the device 105 is designed to receive an end signal 115, which can be received by the control device 120 just for example and indicates the end of the wash program of the washing machine. In another exemplary embodiment, the end signal may also indicate the end of a crease protection program downstream of the actual wash program.

Optionally, the control device 120 is also designed to provide a wash program signal 125 to the device 105. By way of example only, wash program signal 125 provides program information regarding a selected wash program. This program information includes, for example, the selected temperature, additional items selected, the amount of laundry or the program duration of the wash cycle.

The device 105 is designed to read the door contact signal 130 through the door interface 135 resulting in an end signal 115 to detect or monitor the closed state of the door 140 of the washing machine 100. . By way of example only, in this example embodiment the door contact signal 130 may be provided by a door contact sensor 145 disposed on the door 140 . Additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, the device 105 includes a counter 150, which, by way of example only, counts a predefined time limit in response to an end signal 115. In one exemplary embodiment, setup signal 155 indicates the duration of the time period to be waited for. This duration is specified by the user via user interface 165 disposed on mobile device 160 by way of example only. In another example embodiment, the user interface may also be placed directly on the washing machine.

In this embodiment, the mobile device 160 is a smartphone that stores an app for controlling the washing machine 100. By way of example only, in another example embodiment, this may be a tablet, portable computer, or similar mobile device.

In this exemplary embodiment, the device 105 initiates the start option signal 175 when it recognizes using the door contact signal 130 that the door has not been opened within a predefined time limit, which is initiated in response to the end signal 115. ) is designed to provide to the user interface 165. A selection option for starting the hygiene rinse program may be provided to the user by a start option signal 175. As a result of the user's selection to start a sanitary rinse program, the device 105 of this exemplary embodiment reads a confirmation signal 180 indicating this selection and, in response to the confirmation signal 180, initiates a start signal 185. By way of example only, it is designed to provide to the control device 120. By way of example only, start signal 120 indicates the start of a sanitary rinse program in the form of a water-reduction rinse cycle, which may also be referred to as “Spin & Spray.” In another embodiment, a further rinse cycle according to a previously terminated wash program is started using a start signal.

Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment, when the laundry stays in the washing machine 100 for a long time after the program ends, a subsequent process is automatically added and the operator can confirm or perform it. The program end can be clearly defined by the washing machine by adding, by way of example only, an anti-wrinkle function 30 minutes after the end of the program. Through the door contact of the door contact sensor 145, it can be determined whether the load has been removed or is still located in the washing machine 100. If the door contact does not signal the door opening for a defined period of time (only eg a period of less than 2 hours), an automatic sanitary rinse is provided. This function can be controlled directly by the user on the washing machine 100 or through an app. The subsequent process of hygienic rinsing is, by way of example only, based on the finished wash program. Depending on settings such as programs, options, additional items and information from the process such as amount of laundry, loading stage, water and energy consumption, number of rinse cycles, residual moisture and program duration, subsequent hygiene is carried out. Rinsing is coordinated in terms of process engineering. In this case, by way of example only, a distinction is made between additional rinsing cycles that appropriately correspond to the rinsing of a completed program, or simple so-called "Spin & Spray" rinsing cycles with resource-saving use of water.

2 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 200 for sanitizing fabric in a washing machine. In this exemplary embodiment, the method 200 includes setting 205 a time limit using a set signal indicative of the duration of the time limit set through the user interface. In this case, the duration is, by way of example only, individually set by the user and specifies the time limit between the end of the wash program and the provision of the selection option for starting the hygienic rinse cycle. The method 200 also includes the step of receiving 210 an end signal and the step 215 of reading a door contact signal, wherein the end signal indicates the end of a wash program of the washing machine, and the door contact signal is Indicates the status of the washing machine door.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method 200 optionally includes a step 220 of adjusting the sequence of sanitary rinse cycles using a wash program signal, wherein the wash program signal represents program information for a wash program. . In the representation shown here, the adjusting step 220 occurs, by way of example only, after the reading step 215, or, in another exemplary embodiment, may already be performed before the reading step 215. , or may be performed after one of the following steps.

In this exemplary embodiment, providing a start option signal to the user interface (225) follows an optional adjusting step (220) to provide the user with a selection option for starting the hygiene rinse program. This step is performed under the prerequisite that it is recognized that the door has not been opened using the door contact signal within the time defined in step 205 and that it is initiated in response to the end signal.

By way of example only, the method 200 also includes outputting a start signal to start a sanitary rinse program in response to a confirmation signal read through the user interface, wherein the confirmation signal is configured to: Represents a choice made by the user.

Claims (11)

A method (200) for hygienic treatment of cloth (110) in a washing machine (100), comprising:
Step 210: receiving an end signal 115 indicating the end of the wash program of the washing machine 100;
Reading a door contact signal 130 indicating the state of the door 140 of the washing machine 100 (215); and
If it is recognized using the door contact signal 130 that the door 140 has not been opened within a predefined time period starting in response to the end signal 115, the user may select the option to start a sanitary rinse program. A method (200) comprising providing (225) a start option signal (175) to a user interface (165) to provide to the user interface (165). According to paragraph 1,
In the reading step (215), the door contact signal (130) is read by a door contact sensor (145) disposed on the door (140) through a door interface (135). According to any one of claims 1 and 2,
A method (200), comprising setting (215) the time limit via the user interface (165) using a setting signal (155) indicating the duration of the time limit. According to any one of claims 1 to 3,
and outputting (230) a start signal (185) for starting the sanitary rinse program in response to a confirmation signal (180) read through the user interface (165);
The method (200) wherein the confirmation signal (180) indicates a selection made by the user to start the sanitary rinse program. According to clause 4,
In the output step 230, the start signal 185 for starting the sanitary rinse program is output in the form of an additional rinse cycle or a water-reduced rinse cycle according to the wash program ( 200). According to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A method (200) comprising adjusting (220) the order of the sanitary rinse cycle using a wash program signal (125) representing program information for the wash program. According to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Method (200), wherein in the receiving step (210), the end signal (115) indicates the end of the anti-wrinkle program. According to any one of claims 1 to 7,
In the providing step (225), the start option signal (175) is provided to the user interface (165) disposed in at least one of the washing machine (100) and the mobile device (205). 200). Device (105) designed for performing steps (210, 215, 225) of the method (200) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 in corresponding units. Washing machine (100) equipped with a sanitary rinse program and a device (105) according to claim 9. A computer program product having program code for performing the method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 when the computer program product is executed on a device.

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