WO2002052087A1

WO2002052087A1 - Washing machine comprising a smoothing and/or pressing function

Info

Publication number: WO2002052087A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/014907
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edwin Bolduan; Wolfgang Proppe
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2000-12-27
Filing date: 2001-12-17
Publication date: 2002-07-04
Also published as: NO20032165L; US20040112095A1; EP1349974A1; DE10065336A1; NO20032165D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine, in which the washing (5) is fixed by means of supports (6), for example, coat hanger-type supports, tensioning devices or pressing forms. Once the wash cycle has been completed, the washing (5) is subjected to steam pressure via the supports (6). The washing (5) is thus smoothed and/or pressed.

Description

Washing machine with smooth and / or ironing function

The invention relates to a washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Washing machines are known as commercially available household washing machines from the prior art. Household washing machines of this type have a washing drum for moving the laundry, into which washing liquor is washed. The dirt loosened in the laundry is then removed in a rinsing process.

Household washing machines can also be equipped with an integrated dryer, which usually works on the principle of condensation or recirculation.

After washing and drying the laundry, it must be removed from the drum and can then be ironed by hand. Devices for automatically smoothing laundry are also known from the prior art, but are predominantly only suitable for the commercial sector.

DE 29 29 057 C2 discloses a device for the ready-steaming of pullovers, jackets and similar items of clothing. In this device, an inflatable steam dummy modeled on the item of clothing to be treated is in fluid communication with a blower which is attached to the underside of the steam dummy and can blow heated air or steam into the cavity of the steam dummy via delivery lines and an intermediate heating element via a wide jet nozzle ,

DE 199 13 647 A1 discloses a device for drying and / or smoothing dampened laundry, in particular shirts. The device has a device for aligning the laundry and a heating device to which a blower is assigned. The heating device has at least one heat store, whereby e.g. thermal energy is stored during the alignment of the laundry and is available at the beginning and during the treatment process. This device should also be suitable for household use.

From DE 35 07 757 C2 a commercial machine for steaming and smoothing clothing is known. For this purpose, a support that is partially modeled on the fit, for example a shirt, and a tensioning device for the edge regions of the item of clothing for aligning the item of clothing in accordance with the fit, which can be adapted to different sizes, are provided. Under the effect of steam and / or drying air, the item of clothing is molded fit and acts using dimensionally stable systems, molded elements and a steam-filled steaming bag. From DE 197 30 358 A1, a further development of the machine for steaming and smoothing is known, which is intended to enable a smooth smoothing process at all washing stations.

Washing, drying and smoothing devices for industrial laundry purposes are also known from the prior art:

An industrial cleaning device is known from US Pat. No. 5,502,988, which has a conveyor chain for transporting the laundry through the various washing process steps. Furthermore, US 4,412,435 a cleaning system with continuous operation is known. The cleaning system has a device for mechanical action on the laundry. A corresponding system is also known from US 4,361,018.

From NL 10 05 069 C2 an industrial hot iron for drying and ironing laundry is known, which has an endless conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is partly guided along an evaporation device.

From JP-A-10118398 a drying, smoothing and ironing device for washed laundry is known, which has a belt for absorbing the moisture and rollers for transporting the laundry.

From JP-A-5337300 an industrial washing device with a conveyor is known which conveys the laundry through the various washing process steps in the system.

A conveyor for moving laundry is known from US Pat. No. 5,439,768, in which the laundry to be transported is coupled to the conveyor belt by means of fastening clips.

From DE 32 16 195 A1 a mangle device is known in which pressure is exerted on the laundry against a roller by means of a conveyor belt in order to carry out a pre-dehumidification.

The invention is based on the object of creating a washing machine with an integrated smoothing and / or ironing function.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention allows automatic smoothing and / or ironing of laundry after the washing process without the laundry having to be removed from the washing machine. For the user - especially in the household sector - this makes work considerably easier.

Before the washing process is carried out, the item of laundry to be washed is fixed on a carrier within the housing of the washing machine, via which a hot compressed air stream is introduced into the item of laundry after the washing process has ended, so that the item is smoothed. Alternatively or in addition, the hot air flow can also e.g. be introduced into the item of laundry from below via additional nozzles.

The items of laundry to be washed and ironed are advantageously applied to bow-shaped supports, which are then hung in the washing machine. The bow-shaped supports can be hollow on the inside for guiding the compressed air flow into the item of laundry.

Alternatively or additionally, carriers for items of laundry can also be arranged fixedly or movably in the washing machine, so that the items of laundry are pulled onto the corresponding carriers directly in the washing machine. This can be a steaming manikin or a tensioning device.

A further blower is advantageously arranged in the housing of the washing machine, so that an air flow can also be applied from the outside to smooth the item or items of laundry. The smooth and / or ironing function is optimized by the appropriate back pressure.

A controllable conveyor device, for example a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain, to which the carriers for the items of laundry can be fixed, is advantageously formed in the washing machine. Depending on the processing operation to be carried out, the conveyor device can hold the laundry items stationary within the washing machine, bring them into circulation at a constant speed, or have them move back and forth. The use of the conveying device is also particularly advantageous for carrying out the washing process. The items to be washed are then guided by means of the conveying device past various nozzles arranged in the washing machine, for example for wetting the items to be washed, for spraying the wash liquor onto the items to be washed and for supplying rinse water to the items to be removed for the removal of loosened dirt particles.

Before the smoothing and / or ironing process is carried out, preliminary dehumidification is advantageously carried out first. This can be done by putting it in the washing machine Integrated drying device, which works according to the condensation or exhaust air principle, for example.

To carry out the smoothing and / or ironing process, it is advantageous to move the items of laundry by means of the conveying device in the housing past the hot air nozzles fixed in the inside of the housing, in order to ensure that the surfaces of the items of laundry are exposed to air evenly on average.

The items of laundry are advantageously first coated with hot and moist compressed air. This is followed by brushing with hot and dry compressed air. Cold and dry air are then advantageously supplied in order to shorten the time until the washing machine is safely opened by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, a pair of rollers arranged along the circulation in the housing serves to pre-dehumidify the laundry. The items to be washed are drawn through the pair of rollers by means of the conveying device, so that the washing water in the items to be washed is at least partially pressed out.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the pre-dehumidification is carried out by pressing the laundry against an absorbent fleece. The items to be washed are preferably pressed against the fleece in a region of the circulation by means of a roller, at the same time being drawn on by the conveying device.

The fleece absorbs water from the laundry at least in a region of the pressure point of the roll, so that it is pre-dehumidified.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the laundry is pre-dehumidified by hot or cold compressed air. The pre-dehumidification can take place according to the exhaust air dryer as well as the condensation dryer principle.

After completion of the washing, drying and smoothing and / or ironing process, the laundry can be taken directly from the washing machine, e.g. B. in a closet, since the laundry is already in the use position, this can also be done by an automatic machine.

As a result, the invention thus allows the fully automatic course of laundry care in a single household appliance.

The invention is described below with reference to the drawings using a preferred embodiment as an example. Show in the drawings 1 shows a cross section through a washing machine according to the invention with an ironing function parallel to a plane of the conveyor belt,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the washing machine with ironing function.

1 shows a washing machine 1 which has a cabinet-shaped housing 2. The housing 2 can be up to 2 m high, for example. The remaining dimensions of the washing machine 1 preferably correspond to those of conventional household washing machines.

In the housing 2 there is an endless conveyor belt 3, which is driven, deflected and controlled by a motor of the washing machine 1, not shown, via rollers or gearwheels, likewise not shown. Alternatively, this conveyor device can also be implemented, for example, as a conveyor chain.

A compressed air conductor, for example a cavity, is formed in or on the conveyor belt 3 and is used to conduct hot compressed air. The cavity in the conveyor belt 3 is connected to a compressor via a compressed air line, not shown. The conveyor belt 3 has recesses 4 into which bow-shaped carriers 6 can engage. Each of the bow-shaped supports 6 has a hook in which a cavity for guiding the compressed air is formed on the inside. If the bow-shaped carrier is hooked with its hook into a recess 4 of the conveyor belt 3, a flow connection is thereby established between the conveyor belt 3 and the bow-shaped carrier 6, so that the hot air conducted in the cavity of the conveyor belt 3 via the hook into the bow-shaped Carrier 6 can flow from which it emerges through distributed nozzle openings in order to pressurize hot items of compressed air from the inside with items of laundry 5 located on the bow-shaped carrier 6, for example a shirt or a blouse, that is to say "inflate" them. Before the washing process is carried out, individual items of laundry are each hung on a bow-shaped carrier 6, after which the carrier 6 is hooked into a recess 4 of the conveyor belt 3.

On the inside of the housing 2 there are spray nozzles 7 for spraying water onto the laundry 5. Furthermore, cleaning nozzles 8 for spraying washing liquor onto the laundry are arranged along the conveyor belt 3 on the inside of the housing. Below the cleaning nozzles 8 there are rinsing nozzles 20 for spraying rinsing water onto the items 5 to be washed, so that the loosened dirt is washed out of the items 5 to be washed. On the opposite inside of the housing 2 there is an area of the conveyor belt 3 with a hot air blower 9 for brushing the laundry 5 with warm or hot air. Above the hot air pressure blower 9 there is an absorbent fleece 10 which is guided over rollers 11 and 12. At least one of the rollers 11 or 12 can be driven in order to move the fleece in its parallel region directly facing the conveyor belt 3, essentially synchronously with a circulating movement of the conveyor belt 3.

A blower 13 is also located in the housing 2. The blower 13 can be used to suck in air or to blow off exhaust air. In the rear wall of the housing 2 there is a heat exchanger 14, which is advantageously designed as a rinsing container. The rinsing container therefore has the function of storing the water for the rinsing processes and at the same time serves as a condenser for condensing the water taken up with the compressed air from the items 5 to be washed. The water in the rinsing tank is preheated by the heat exchange with the condensing steam. The energy consumption of the washing machine 1 can thereby be reduced.

In the lower area of the housing 2 there is a fluff filter 15 in a wash liquor collecting container 22 which serves to collect water. A circulation pump 16 for wetting and / or spraying the laundry 5 via the spray nozzles 7 or the cleaning nozzles 8 and a drain pump 17 for pumping around or for pumping out washing liquor via the hose 18 are located under the wash liquor collecting container 22.

In a front area of the housing 2 there is a heater in the form of heating spirals below and / or above a door opening in the housing 2. The heating coils are not shown in FIG. 1.

To prepare the washing process, the laundry 5 with the bow-shaped supports 6 is first suspended in the conveyor belt 3.

The detergent is added to the detergent solution container 22 via a detergent addition. This can follow via a storage and dosing container combination according to the principle of a induction bowl.

After starting the washing program, the detergent dissolves in the water bath and is led to the cleaning nozzles 8 via the circulating pump 16 at a given time.

In order to carry out a washing program, the conveyor belt 3 is set in a circumferential movement in a first step, specifically in accordance with the arrow 19 shown direction of movement. The rotational speed of the conveyor belt 3 and thus of the laundry 5 transported by the conveyor belt 3 corresponds to the washing process speed required in each case.

The spray nozzles 7 wet the passing laundry 5 in order to moisten it and thus accelerate the absorption of detergent into the laundry 5.

In a second step, the items to be washed pass the cleaning nozzles 8, through which wash liquor is sprayed onto the items to be washed 5. The wash liquor soaks the laundry 5 and so loosens the dirt.

In a third step, fresh water is sprayed from the rinsing nozzles 20 onto the laundry 5 passing by in order to remove the dirt and the wash liquor.

By means of sensors mounted in the housing 2, the cleaning success of the items 5 to be cleaned can be checked or the turbidity of the washing liquor measured and, if necessary, evaluated. If the degree of cleaning is not satisfactory, the above Repeat steps as many times as necessary.

The wash liquor or the rinse water drips from the damp laundry 5 into the wash liquor collecting container 22 and is fed from there in a circuit to the cleaning nozzles 8 or pumped out via the drain pump 17. In principle, in the washing machine 1 it is not necessary for the laundry 5 to be introduced into the washing liquor 23 located in the washing liquor collecting container 22; rather, washing solution is applied to the laundry 5 in the exemplary embodiment shown solely via the cleaning nozzles 8.

For an improved water exchange, the laundry 5 can be brought against a system. Furthermore, the process of water exchange or water delivery can be intensified and accelerated with the help of pairs of rollers.

After the wet phase in which the laundry is washed, the dry phase follows. After the fresh water supply to the rinsing nozzles 20 has been switched off, dry, heated compressed air is fed to the items to be washed via a compressor or the blower 13 for the drying process. Through an additional circulation or back and forth movement of the laundry 5 through the conveyor belt 3, the drying time can be shortened by the associated intensive air exchange with the air in the housing 2.

Before the laundry 5 is actually dried, the laundry 5 is advantageously pre-dehumidified. In a first embodiment, not shown in FIG. 1, a pair of rollers is electronically controlled by distance sensors on both sides against the laundry 5 moving with the conveyor belt 3, so that the laundry 5 is pulled through the pair of rollers. Due to the pressure of the pair of rollers on the laundry 5 in between, water is pressed out of the laundry 5 and drips back into the wash liquor container 22. Instead of a pair of rollers, a roller chain can also be provided, so that the laundry 5 is pulled through a roller chain arranged on both sides of the laundry 5 instead of through the pair of rollers.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the laundry 5 is pressed against the fleece 10 by means of a roller 24 as soon as it has reached the area of the fleece 10. For this purpose, the roller 24 moves in the direction of the arrow 25 in order to press the laundry 5 against the fleece. Where the roller 24 meets the laundry 5, a pressure is exerted on the laundry 5 against the fleece 10, so that the water in the laundry 5 is at least partially absorbed by the fleece 10 at this point. At the same time, the conveyor belt continues to move the laundry 5 in question along the movement seal of the arrow 19, so that the area in which the roller 24 meets the laundry 5 also changes.

Parallel to the movement of the conveyor belt 3 and the corresponding laundry 5, the fleece 10 guided over the rollers 11 and 12 also moves on. This has the advantage that, where the laundry 5 is pressed against the fleece 10 by means of the roller 24, there is a region of the fleece 10 that is even drier and thus more absorbent. The water absorbed in the fleece can be pressed out, for example, via a further pair of rollers (not shown) when the fleece soaked in water returns on the side directly facing the housing 2.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the pre-dehumidification can be carried out by means of dry compressed air which is applied directly to the laundry. The dry air is applied evenly to the laundry using the hot air pressure blower. In addition, the items to be washed may be e.g. are fixed between grids not shown in FIG. 1. The compressed air is advantageously process-controlled in sub-steps.

The steps mentioned can be carried out in combination or in succession - also repeatedly - in order to achieve an optimal cleaning effect.

After the washing process and possibly the process of pre-dehumidification and / or drying, the smoothing and / or ironing process follows. For this, the funding belt 3 and the bow-shaped carrier, which is suspended in the conveyor belt 3, passes hot compressed air into the laundry 5 fastened to the carriers, so that these are acted upon from the inside with a compressed air stream. At the same time, the laundry 5 is coated with hot, moist compressed air by the hot air pressure blower 9 and / or the blower 13. In this case, the laundry 5 is circulated by means of the conveyor belt 3, so that it circulates in the housing 2 or executes a reciprocating movement.

In a subsequent process step, the laundry 5 is coated with hot, dry compressed air, which completes the actual smoothing and / or ironing process. After completion of the smoothing and / or ironing process, it is advantageous to coat the laundry 5 with cold, dry air in order to cool it down. By shortening the cooling process, it is possible to open the washing machine door more quickly, thus further shortening the time required for the overall laundry care process.

2 shows a further preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used for the elements of FIG. 1 corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the conveyor belt 3 is formed in two parts. Only the rear part of the conveyor belt 3 is shown in FIG. 2. Between the two parts of the conveyor belt 3 there are carriers 26 onto which items 5 can be hung. The carriers 26 are hollow on the inside for guiding compressed air. Via a compressor, hot air can be blown into the laundry 5 suspended from the carriers 26 via the carriers 26.

Warm air pressure blowers 9 are arranged along an inside of the housing 2. To implement the smoothing and / or ironing function, hot air is blown into the laundry 5 via the carrier 26, so that the laundry 5 is subjected to the pressure of hot air on the inside thereof. At the same time, the laundry is moved past the warm air pressure blowers 9 by the movement of the conveyor belt 3 in the direction of the arrow 19, so that the laundry 5 is also subjected to air pressure from the outside, so that a counterpressure arises. This results in the desired smooth and ironing effect.

After completion of the smoothing and ironing process, the laundry 5 is in the ready-to-use position. It can be rearranged mechanically by a machine from the washing machine 1 into a wardrobe or linen cupboard. As an alternative or in addition to the bow-shaped supports 6 and 26, a damping manikin and / or tensioning device can also be suspended in the conveyor belt 3, via which the compressed air is fed into the interior of the laundry 5.

Claims

claims

1. Washing machine with a housing and means for generating an air flow, characterized in that means for carrying (6, 26) of at least one item of laundry (5) and means (3, 4, 6, 26) for introducing the air flow into the item of laundry are arranged in the housing (2).

2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for carrying are designed to direct at least part of the air flow into the laundry.

3. Washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for carrying are formed in a bow shape.

4. Washing machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for carrying are designed as a replica of the shape of the item of laundry to be processed and the support is in fluid communication with the means for generating an air stream.

5. Washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the support is a steaming dummy or a tensioning device.

6. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that second means for generating a second air flow for directing the second air flow to an outside of the laundry are arranged in the housing (2).

7. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a controllable conveyor device is arranged in the housing (2), to which one or more means for carrying can be coupled, and the conveyor device is preferably designed as a conveyor belt (3) or conveyor chain.

8. Washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the conveying device holds the laundry, depending on the processing operation to be carried out, brings it into a constant-speed cycle or executes a to-and-fro movement.

9. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) is cabinet-shaped.

10. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (7) for wetting the laundry are arranged in the housing (2).

11. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (8) for applying wash liquor are arranged in the housing (2) and the means for applying wash liquor have at least one nozzle (8) for spraying the wash liquor onto the laundry ,

12. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (20) for supplying rinsing water to the laundry are arranged in the housing (2).

13. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (10, 11, 12, 24) for pre-dehumidifying the laundry are arranged in the housing (2).

14. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the washing machine has an integrated drying device.

15. A method for smoothing and / or ironing a piece of laundry in a washing machine with an integrated smooth and / or ironing function according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: a. Brushing the laundry with hot, moist compressed air, b. Brush the item of laundry with hot, dry compressed air.

16. The method according to claim 15 with the following further step: pre-dehumidification of the laundry.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16 with the following further step: supply of cold, dry air.