Description A WASHER/DRYER WITH A DRUM HAVING ONE OR MORE FILTERS
[001] This invention relates to a washer/dryer comprising a lint filter which is placed to cover the inside of the drum into which the laundry to be washed/dried is loaded.
[002] In state of art, washer/dryers comprise a drum in which the laundry is loaded and which has holes on the surface and rotates within a tub on the horizontal or vertical axis and ribs, which provides washing and drying by allowing the replacement of the laundry in the drum.
[003] In order to dry the laundry in the washer/dryers, the moisture of the air should be eliminated. The cycle of the air absorbing the moisture of the laundry can be either open or closed. In the open cycle, the moisture air is discharged from the machine through an opening and fresh air is let in through another opening, and after the fresh air is heated by a heating source and it is transferred to the laundry. In closed cycle, the moisture air leaves its moisture on the condenser and is transferred to the laundry after being heated by the heating source. During the inlet and or discharge of the air, the air is transferred to the drying cycle through one or more filters. In case the lint filter is not used, lint may accumulate in any part of the device. The reason is that the laundry may leave lint due to their types, replacement movements inside the drum, air current and temperature. Lint accumulated on the filters should be either cleaned by the user or automatically by the device itself. Otherwise, the device or the system does not fulfill its functions. For instance, during the drying process, the laundry may be burnt due to the decrease in the air flow and increase in the energy consumption or a fire can be observed directly in the blocked parts due to the lint particles. However the filters may be mounted into places where the user can easily access in the dryers, it is not easy to find a place where they can work well and can be easily mounted and dismounted.
[004] In state of art, US4848105 defines a filter having a circular form formed at the bottom surface of the drum in a vertical axis and top-loading washing machine.
[005] EPO0623700 discloses a filter having a circular form formed on the frustoconic recess at the back surface of the tub in a horizontal axis and top-loading drying machine.
[006] In the prior art, EPO504000 defines a filter placed into the housing in the back surface of the tub in a horizontal axis and top-loading drying machine.
[007] US3027742 defines a filter having a cylindrical form placed into the mixer of a vertical axis and top-loading washing machine.
[008] International Patent Application WOO 196647 discloses a lint filter covering the tub partially and cleaning of this filter by the brushes on the outer surface of the tub.
[009] The object of this invention is to realize a washer/dryer comprising a lint filter which will be easily mounted and dismounted for cleaning by the user without causing any loss of performance and energy or preventing the washing and/or drying function.
[010] The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the abovementioned objective of the present invention has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein; [011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washer/dryer.
[012] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a washer/dryer.
[013] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a drum, which is cut in two and a lint filter, which is mounted onto the drum. [014] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a drum comprising more than one ribs and more than one filters attached to the adaptors, which are mounted onto the ribs. [015] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a filter.
[016] Figure 6 is an exploded schematic view of a filter.
[017] Figure 7 is A-A cross sectional view of filter.
[018] The components shown in the figures have individually been enumerated as shown below: 1. Washer/dryer 2. Drum 3. Tub 4. Rib 5. Drum hole 6. Back surface of the drum 7. Side surface of the drum 8. Front surface of the drum 9. Fan 10. Filter 11. Heater 12. Claw 13. Layer 14. Lint collection chamber 15. Adaptor 16. Frame 17. Base 18. Sieve
[019] Washer/dryers (1) preferably the washing machines comprise a drum (2) which rotates around the middle axis and washes/dries the laundry inside, a fixed tub (3) in which the drum (2) rotates; one or more ribs (4) which provides the motion of the laundry together with the drum (2), one or more fans (9) which provides the suction and/or blowing of the air inside and one or more heaters (11) which heat the washing water and/or washing air.
[020] The drum (2) in the cylindrical form comprises a circular back surface of drum (6) by which it is connected to the motor by a shaft, a front surface of drum (8) on he opposite side of the back surface of drum (6) having a loading opening for the loading
and removal of the laundry, a side surface of drum (7) which connects the front surface of drum (8) with the back surface of drum (6) by covering their sides, more than one drum holes (5) on the side surface of drum (7) providing the contact of the laundry with the water and/or air for the washing, rinsing, spinning and drying functions and one or more filters (10) preferably placed on the side surface of drum (7) or between more than one ribs (4) having the same form with the side surface of drum (7) and providing the cleaning of the lint and wastes in the washing water and/or drying air.
[021] There are no drum holes (5) on the back surface of drum (6) and front surface of drum (8). Since the fan (9) is placed in the upstream of the airflow when compared to the drum holes (5), the air is sucked through the drum holes. Simultaneously the air passes through the filter (10) and the wastes such as lint are held on the filter (10).
[022] Lint filter (10) comprises one or more layers (13) forming itself by staying one over the other and one or more lint collection chambers (14) between the layers (13).
[023] Each layer (13) comprises one or more frames (16) one or more bases (17) inside the frame (16) holding its sides together and one or more porous sieves between the frame (16) and/or bases (17). Sieves have different sizes of pores according to their position. In a preferred embodiment, layers (13) close to the laundry include bigger pores and layers (13) far from the laundry include smaller pores.
[024] Before the user starts the washing/spinning/drying process of the laundry such as wool clothes having high amount of lint leaving capability, or for instance before the drying process, the user places the filter (10) between the ribs (4) and loads the laundry on the filter (10). When the process is ended, the filter (10) is removed and cleaned.
[025] The holes on the filter (10) is such that, the mechanic motion of drum during drying cycle, rotation cycle of drum, duration of rotation of drum to the right and left and standby duration of drum, are prevent the drop of the accumulated lint particles from the filter (10).
[026] In another embodiment of the invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises one or more adaptors (15) for reaching the necessary height for the function of the ribs (4) at optimum conditions when the filter (10) is placed onto the ribs (4). Ribs (4) have the cross sections required for the elevation of the laundry in the drum (3) and remaining at this elevated level. When the filter (10) is placed between the ribs (4) the height of the cross section decreases and the laundry can not be elevated and remained at the required level. In order to eliminate this problem, adaptor (15) is placed onto the ribs (4) and the filter (10) is mounted onto the adaptor (15). Therefore the cross section, which should operate when the filter (10) is placed, is elevated to the required height. In a preferred embodiment, filter (10) is attached to the adaptor (15) and/or the ribs (4) by means of the screws. Screws are placed into the housings opened for them and prevented to damage to the laundry during the washing/drying cycle.
[027] The washer/dryer (1) which is the subject of the invention can catch the lint particles before they reach to the drying system equipment by means of the filter (10)
which can be easily mounted and dismounted and cleaned from the front surface of drum (8) in closed cycles. Since the filter (10) is mounted and dismounted from the front surface of drum (8), it can be mounted to all of the washer/dryers (1). Furthermore the filter (10) has a wider surface than the other possible filters, which may be mounted into the drying system equipments, therefore holds excessive amount of lint particles.
[028] As the filter (10) is not fixed anywhere and cleaned automatically, it can be dismounted and cleaned continuously. If a clean filter (10) is used, the airflow does not decrease in the closed drying cycle and drying duration and energy decrease thereby making it more efficient. Due to the reason that the filter (10) can be removed and cleaned; lint accumulation on the filter (10) is prevented and lint burning risk is eliminated by decreasing the temperature in the air of the cycle.
[029] Since all types of laundry do not have the same potential of lint, it may cause a problem for the lint filter to be cleaned entirely. The filter (10) provides the accumulation of the lint particles in the required place during the drying process of the laundry having a high lint potential.