WO2011076720A1

WO2011076720A1 - Washing machine having a desalination device

Info

Publication number: WO2011076720A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/070209
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Hanau; Torsten Hasse; Hartmut Schaub
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2010-12-20
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: CN102666963B; CN102666963A; EA021277B1; DE102009055276A1; EP2516716B1; EP2516716A1; PL2516716T3; EA201290566A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine having a suds container 1, a washing drum 2, a water inlet system 8, 9, 10 and a suds discharge system having a suds pump 16, a program control 12, a desalination device 17 for generating desalinated water, and a rinse water store 22, wherein the washing machine comprises a soft water tank 24 connected to the water inlet system 8, 9, 10 by means of the desalination device 17. The invention further relates to a method for treating laundry in such a washing machine.

Description

WASHING MACHINE WITH DESALINATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR

TREATMENT OF WASH

The invention relates to a washing machine with a desalination device and a rinse water storage, and a method for treating laundry in a washing machine according to the invention.

In the treatment of soiled laundry in a washing machine is generally followed by the actual washing step using suitable cleaning agents, a rinsing phase with one or more rinsing steps with water. In this rinsing phase, the items of laundry are freed from the wash liquor enriched with impurities and cleaning agents as well as any residues of impurities and cleaning agents adhering to the laundry items. The amount of such substances remaining on the fibers of the laundry items is the lower, the more water is used during the rinsing and / or the more frequently it is rinsed with water. However, the time and amount of water used for rinsing should be reduced due to the demands of users of washing machines as well as environmental protection. At the same time, the demands on the rinsing efficiency of a washing machine are increasing.

In dishwashers water softeners are used to make the fresh water used "softer". Water softening is understood to mean the removal of the alkaline earth cations Ca ²⁺ and Mg ²⁺ dissolved in the water, which can reduce the washing action of detergents by forming lime soils and can lead to troublesome scale deposits in pipelines and apparatus. From colloquial hard water soft water is generated. The removal of only calcium and magnesium ions from the water, as is done in dishwashing, would not significantly improve the washing efficiency in a laundry washing process. Detergents are therefore often added so-called water softening chemicals, which enter into strong interactions with the alkaline earth cations, which are then no longer available for disturbing reactions. The alkaline earth cations are not removed from the water. The water then shows within certain limits the behavior of soft water. This process is therefore not actually softening and the disadvantages of hard water remain essentially exist. In addition, the water softener must be removed during the rinse, which rather increases the amount of rinse water needed.

DE 19 44 397 A1 describes a washing machine or dishwashing machine with a device for water softening, which works on the principle of reverse osmosis, with at least one semipermeable film which is associated with its one surface of a water supply line and with its other surface of a water drain line. In the drawing, a dishwasher is shown, in which a reservoir for softened water can be provided, which is equipped with a drain valve. DE 197 09 085 A1 describes a method for washing laundry, in particular in a household washing machine, in which the laundry in a tub during a washing section with washing liquid and during subsequent rinsing sections is treated with rinsing liquid and at the end of the respective washing / rinsing section the tub is emptied, wherein the washing liquid and / or the rinsing liquid at least one rinsing are emptied into a collecting container and reused after preparation by a reverse osmosis, micro, ultra or nanofiltration with caching in a storage container. The treated washing or rinsing liquid is fed to a later rinsing section of the same program sequence.

DE 296 1 091 U1 describes a liquid-conducting household appliance with a program control in which the further program sequence is adjustable depending on detected measured variables, wherein at least one conductivity sensor is arranged, through which the conductance of a liquid located in the sphere of action of the domestic appliance can be determined.

The non-prepublished WO 2010/1 15683 A1 describes a water-conducting household appliance, such as a washing machine, with a desalination device. The desalting device may be a reverse osmosis device, an electrodialysis device and / or an ion exchanger. If by-product desalting water has been produced with a higher salt concentration, for example by reverse osmosis, it may be stored and then used in a later washing process in one of the first rinses. According to this document can also be a Rinse water storage be present in which the used rinse water is cached, to be used for example in a subsequent wash cycle.

The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a washing machine with reduced water consumption, and a method for treating laundry in a washing machine with reduced water consumption.

The object underlying the invention is achieved by a washing machine and a method for treating laundry in a washing machine according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are listed in the respective dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the washing machine correspond to preferred embodiments of the method, even if it is not separately pointed out here in each case. The invention thus relates to a washing machine with a lye container, a laundry drum, a water supply system and a lye drain system with a drain pump, a program control, a desalination apparatus for producing demineralized water and a rinse water storage, wherein the washing machine has a soft water tank, via the desalination device with the water supply system connected is.

The washing machine of the present invention is a washing machine in the strict sense or a washer-dryer. In the following, the term washing machine is used for both devices.

The washing machine according to the invention comprises a program control, via which the programs to be executed are controlled. Preferably, the program controller is connected to a display device, which may additionally include input devices for the input of data by the user.

A water referred to as "softened water" may not necessarily meet the requirements of a designated "distilled" or "demineralized" standard scale water deionized, demineralized water, demineralized water or deionized water is (H20) without the minerals (salts, ions) found in normal spring or tap water. To determine the degree of purity of a demineralized water, the conductivity is measured using a conductivity meter. The conductivity is given in S / m (Siemens per meter). Since demineralized water has a very low conductivity, the common unit mS / m or in technical terms με / οηη. Tap water has a conductivity of 700 to 800 με / ηηη depending on the water hardness. Even softened water is still at about 600 μβ / θΓη. The value for desalinated water depends on the type of desalination and is less than 200 με / ηηη. Since water is chemically an ampholyte that can react with itself, even the purest water has a low electrical conductivity: calculated limit 0.055 μβ / θΓΤΐ at 25 ° C. The value for distilled water is between 0.5 and 5 μβ / θΓη.

For the purposes of the present invention, a desalted water (soft water) in the sense of the invention is understood as meaning water which has a conductivity of less than 200 μβ / θΓτι, preferably less than 100 μβ / θΓτι, more preferably less than 50 μβ / θΓΤΐ, more preferably less than 20 μβ / θΓη. Particularly preferred is demineralized (VE) water having a conductivity of less than 10 μβ / θΓη. This degree of desalination is achieved by providing a desalination device in the washing machine. Preferably, the desalting apparatus is connected to a water supply system, i. a fresh water supply, connected. In this case, it can be located in front of the flushing device, or it can also be passed by it.

Preferably, the desalting device is a reverse osmosis device, an electrodialysis device, a nanofiltration device and / or an ion exchanger. When an ion exchanger is used as the desalting apparatus in the process of the present invention, it is not particularly limited in the present invention. Preferably, however, a synthetic resin ion exchanger, in particular a mixed-bed ion exchanger is used. The ion exchanger can be used in one suitable cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as "ion exchanger cartridge"), which has inlet and outlet connections. The insertion of this cartridge in the washing machine and the removal of the cartridge can be done by means of a suitable opening and mounting device in the washing machine. For example, this cartridge can engage in corresponding inlet and outlet connections of the washing machine.

More preferably, according to the invention, a reverse osmosis device, an electrodialysis device or a nanofiltration device is used as the desalting device. Most preferably, a reverse osmosis device is used.

A reverse osmosis device is a device which, in a physical membrane filtration process called reverse osmosis, allows for the concentration of solutes in the fluid by reversing the natural osmosis process by pressure. In this way, water can be desalinated virtually maintenance-free. Replacement or regeneration is eliminated. As a result of the reverse osmosis on the one hand desalted water (hereinafter also referred to as "soft water") and on the other hand salted water (hereinafter also referred to as "hard water") obtained, both of which can be collected separately and used further. A washing machine according to the invention therefore preferably has a storage container for salted-up water (also referred to below as "hard water container").

If water with a higher salt concentration has been produced as a by-product during desalting (for example, this is the case with reverse osmosis), it can be stored and used in a later washing process in one of the first rinses, preferably in the first rinse. This has the advantage that detergent substances are more strongly bound by the salts and can be rinsed out in particle form. For this purpose, the washing machine according to the invention comprises a storage tank (hard water tank), which is connected to the desalination device, and from which the water stored therein with increased salt concentration can then be supplied via corresponding lines to the tub again. The feeder is also controlled by the program control. For additional water savings, the used rinse water can be reused. For this purpose, a rinsing water storage is provided according to the invention, in which the used rinse water is temporarily stored, to then be used for example in a subsequent wash cycle. Especially the used water from the last rinses is so clean that it can easily be used instead of fresh water for wetting and washing clothes. In addition, desalted, used rinsing water already has the advantage that the detergent concentration does not have to be adjusted with respect to the degree of hardness, since the desalted water is already "soft", even if it has undergone a rinse cycle according to the invention In a preferred embodiment, the salted water storage tank (hard water tank) and the rinse tank form a common tank capable of receiving salted-up water or rinse water According to the invention is possible because salted water and rinse water are collected and needed in a process for the treatment of laundry at different times.

The size of the soft water tank, salted water storage tank and rinse water storage can vary widely. In general, their capacity for holding an aqueous liquid is about 70 to 90% of the amount of water provided in the washing machine for washing 6 to 8 kg of laundry. Are for washing from 6 to 8 kg of laundry, for example, 14 to 18 I water provided, the capacity of soft water tank, storage tank for salted-up water and rinse water storage in a preferred embodiment 10 to 16 I. Particularly advantageous because space-saving, it is when Rinse water tank and storage tank for salted water a common container is used.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the washing machine has a first sensor for determining the functionality of the desalting device. For example, a sensor for registering the presence of an ion exchanger cartridge in the washing machine may be provided.

According to the invention, a first sensor is expediently arranged downstream of the desalting device, preferably between the desalting device and the soft water container, and measures the salinity of the water leaving the desalting device. The first sensor in particular a sensor for the direct or indirect detection of ions in question. For example, an ion-selective electrode or a conductivity sensor is suitable. A conductivity sensor generally comprises two electrodes arranged in a liquid to be examined, which allow a statement about the qualitative and quantitative presence of various substances such as salts, detergents or fabric softeners via the conductivity measured between them. According to the invention, the first sensor preferably comprises a conductivity sensor. The first sensor is preferably connected to the program controller and thus can be used to monitor a desalting capability of the desalting device. In this case, the first sensor measures a salinity L in the water leaving the desalting device and compares the measured salinity L with a predetermined and e.g. stored in the program control upper limit L (max). In this case, depletion of the desalting capability of the desalting apparatus may preferably be indicated upon reaching or exceeding L (max). If the desalting capability of the desalting apparatus, e.g. an ion exchanger cartridge is running low, increases the registered by a conductivity sensor as the first sensor conductance of passing out of the cartridge water. A display device of the washing machine can then acoustically or optically display the need for a cartridge change. According to the invention it can be provided that, despite the lack of desalting ability, e.g. missing ion exchange cartridge or exhausted ion exchange capacity, a laundry treatment process is performed.

In addition, a second sensor may be provided, which is arranged in the tub of a washing machine and measures a content S of inorganic and organic substances in the liquid present there and the measured content S with a predetermined value S (min) compares. The program control ensures that when reaching or falling below S (min), a water supply stops and / or no further rinsing step is performed. The second sensor is preferably an optical sensor, a tensiometer or a conductivity sensor. An optical sensor measures optical properties of a liquid that differ from water containing water and inorganic and / or organic substances. Accordingly, in an aqueous solution, a presence of inorganic and / or organic substances can be determined qualitatively and quantitatively. A tensiometer is a simple, dynamic measuring system for determining the content of surface-active substances in a liquid. By means of the tensiometer, a signal proportional to the surface tension of the liquid is produced by the so-called bubble pressure method, which corresponds to the concentration of surface-active substance. Particularly preferably, an optical sensor or a conductivity sensor is used as the second sensor. The second sensor is preferably located in the lower region of the tub.

For a quantitative determination of the content of salt or inorganic and organic substances may be stored in a memory of the program control data deposited on the relationship between the type and concentration of salts or inorganic and organic substances and signal of each sensor (eg conductivity, surface tension, optical Characteristics) are used.

Preferably, according to the invention, an exhausted desalting capability of the desalting device, ie the presence of salt in the water to be used, prior to contact with the items to be washed, is displayed in the form of an optical and / or acoustic signal. The same applies to the display of the removal of inorganic and organic substances in the rinse water in the tub under a tolerable content. For this purpose, for example, an acoustic display device could be used, such as one or more buzzers with different sounds or sounds, or a speech synthesizer with messages such as "Regenerate ion exchanger" or "Rinse finished". Corresponding qualitative and quantitative information about the presence of salts in water or of inorganic and / or organic substances in the rinse water can also be given via an optical display device (LED or LCD). The washing machine according to the invention therefore preferably has a display device for indicating the presence of the condition L greater than or equal to L (max) and / or the condition S less than or equal to S (min), where L is the amount of salt L, S measured by a first sensor the amount of inorganic and organic substances measured by the second sensor, L (max) is a predetermined amount of salt, and S (min) is a predetermined amount of inorganic and organic substances. The evaluation of the measured values supplied by the first and / or second sensor and the evaluation of the content of salts, of inorganic and / or organic substances in the rinsing liquid as well as a possible control of the supply of water with respect to the amount of water and the number of Rinsing steps are preferably carried out by a program control of the washing machine.

The invention also relates to a method for treating laundry in a washing machine with a tub, a laundry drum, a water supply system, a lye drainage system with a drain pump, a program control, a desalting device for producing demineralized water, a soft water tank and a rinse water storage, the method at least comprises a washing step and at least one rinsing step and desalted water is used in a rinsing step, and wherein the desalted water is collected in the soft water tank and the desalted water used in the rinsing step stored in the rinse water storage and reused in a subsequent washing process.

In general, in the method for treating laundry, a rinsing phase is carried out subsequent to the actual washing phase, which consists of one or more rinsing steps with water, generally two to three rinsing steps. According to the invention, desalted water can be used in each rinsing step. Preferably, the inventive method is not carried out in a first rinsing step, but only in a second and more preferably in one of the last rinsing steps. In a preferred embodiment, desalted water is used in the penultimate and / or final rinsing step. The amount of salts to be removed from the laundry and other substances decreases with each rinse step, so that desalinated water can be used particularly efficiently when the The amount of salts to be removed from the laundry and other substances has already decreased significantly.

For a first rinsing step, in general, water with a salt concentration customary in tap water is sufficient, so that an additional effect during the first rinsing through the use of desalinated water is comparatively small. On the contrary, even by using water having a higher salt concentration than in the tap water (for example, in desalination by reverse osmosis), a positive effect can be obtained because the detergent-active substances can be more strongly bound by the salts.

Depending on the water hardness of the water coming from the water feed system, i. Tap water, the performance of the desalting device and / or the loading amount of laundry water can be supplied to the soft water in a rinse still on the water supply system. This is especially true for the first rinses. In the last rinse, however, preferably only soft water is used.

The rinsing effect of the water desalted according to the invention can be further improved by setting a slightly acidic pH in the desalted water, for example by adding an acid.

The desalted water used in a rinsing step is then stored according to the invention in a rinsing water container and reused in a later washing process, e.g. at the next wash. The advantage here is that you need to dose the required amount of detergent only according to the contamination of the laundry, regardless of the water hardness, since the water has already been desalted. The resumed in the last rinse salts and substances are present in such a low concentration that the washing process is not affected.

The rinsing water used in a washing step can be supplied via the water supply system depending on the load and / or the amount of rinse water present in the rinse water storage. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it comprises the steps during one or more washes:

(a) desalting water from the water supply system by means of the desalting device, wherein the soft water thus generated is stored in the soft water tank and the hard water produced in the water

Hard water tank is stored;

(b) inserting hard water from the hard water tank in a first rinsing step; and

(c) inserting soft water from the soft water tank in a final rinse step.

In this case, water from the water feed system and / or either soft water or hard water can preferably be used in a second rinsing step between the first rinsing step and the second rinsing step.

The signals of the first and / or second sensor can be measured continuously or discontinuously during the method according to the invention. For example, the measurement can be carried out by a first sensor at the beginning of a rinsing step and the measurement by a second sensor after the end of feeding water into the tub.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a first sensor measures a salinity L in the water leaving the desalting apparatus and compares it with a predetermined upper limit value L (max). Upon reaching or exceeding L (max), depletion of the desalting device will then be indicated.

Preferably, a second sensor in the tub measures a content S of inorganic and organic substances of the liquid present there and compares it with a predetermined value S (min). When reaching or falling below S (min), a water supply is stopped and / or no further rinsing step is carried out. Preferably, when reaching or falling below S (min), the water supply is stopped and / or no further rinsing step is performed. The amount of water to be used in a rinsing step generally depends on the load of the washing machine on laundry. The loading quantity can be determined by a measure known per se. As a result, the rinsing phase can be tuned very precisely to the specified load. In general, in a rinsing step for a laundry of 5 kg, a quantity of water of about 15 to 18 l is needed. When carrying out the method according to the invention, this amount of water and / or the number of rinsing steps to be carried out are reduced. After the rinsing steps, a softener addition step is generally carried out. In a fabric softening addition step according to the present invention, further substances may be added to the laundry to be treated, for example, a fabric softener, an impregnating agent, fragrances or the like. Since these substances are to remain on the laundry, then no further rinsing step is performed.

The invention has numerous advantages. The process according to the invention has the advantage that, while retaining the rinsing effect achievable by conventional rinsing, the total amount of water required for the rinsing phase can be significantly reduced. This is advantageously possible without lengthening the period of time for the entire treatment of the laundry in the washing machine. Moreover, in certain embodiments, the invention makes it possible to reduce the load on the laundry with undesirable salts and other inorganic and / or organic substances, so that the use of fabric softener can be reduced or avoided.

In addition, the invention is advantageous if the washing of laundry is to take place at a lowered washing temperature, for example at a temperature in the range of 15 to 20 ° C. Here it is sometimes feared that these low temperatures are not enough to kill germs. The present invention now also contributes to an improvement in hygiene, particularly in such washing methods, in that, in embodiments of the invention, germs can be separated off from the washing or rinsing water by means of reverse osmosis or dialysis. The invention is illustrated in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a frontal sectional view of a first embodiment of a washing machine having a soft water tank, a salted water storage tank (also referred to herein as a "hard water tank") and a rinse water tank.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a frontal sectional view of a second embodiment of a washing machine having a soft water container and a common container for saline water and rinse water.

In the schematic representation of Figure 1, the presently relevant parts of a washing machine, in which a method to be explained in more detail below, are shown. Other embodiments are conceivable.

The washing machine has a lye container 1 in which a laundry drum 2 with laundry 7 located therein can be rotatably mounted and operated by a drive motor 14. In cooperation with specially shaped Wäschemitnehmern 4 and 5 Schöpfeinrichtungen for the wash liquor 6, an intensification of the flow of the laundry 7 with wash liquor 6 or 6 is reached with rinse water. The washing machine has a liquor inlet system comprising a water connection for the domestic water network 8, an electrically controllable valve 9 and a supply line 10 to the tub 1, which is guided via a dispenser 1, from which the feed water (fresh water) treatment agent in the tub can transport. In the tub 1 is a heater 13. The valve 9 as well as the heater 13 can be controlled by the program control 12 in response to a program flowchart. A pressure sensor 15 is provided for the measurement of the hydrostatic pressure p in the tub 1. There is provided a desalting device 17 for the desalination of water, which in this embodiment is a reverse osmosis device, which is arranged between the inlet valve 9 and the tub 1, in particular between the valve 9 and a soft water tank 24 or hard water tank 18, but in the process above a line is connected to the dispenser 1 1 over with the tub 1. In one embodiment, not shown, the desalting device 17 may also be provided between the valve 9 and the dispenser 1 1. However, it is advantageous if the desalting device 17 is arranged so that it does not have to be used for each desalination at each water inlet, because on the one hand the use of desalted water during washing is not absolutely necessary, and on the other hand desalting capacity can be saved if desalinated water is supplied only in certain program steps. As already mentioned, desalinated water should preferably be used during rinsing, and particularly preferably in one of the last rinsing steps.

In the first embodiment of a washing machine shown in Fig. 1, the reverse osmosis results in a portion of desalted water (herein called "soft water") being collected in a soft water tank 24. For this purpose, the desalting device 17 is connected to the soft water tank 24 via a first soft water line 25 The soft water container 24 is in turn connected to the suds container 1 via a second soft water line 27 so that desalted water (soft water) can be added as desired to the suds container 1 and thus to the laundry drum 2. Between the desalination apparatus 17 and the soft water container 24 is located a conductivity sensor 19 as a first sensor for detecting a salinity of the water passed through the desalting device 17.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a storage vessel 18 connected to the desalting device 17 via a salted-water line 26 for water having a higher salt concentration (hard water tank 18) is additionally provided. Since the desalting apparatus 17 used in this embodiment is a reverse osmosis apparatus, the saline water resulting from the desalting is collected and stored for later use, e.g. for initial rinses.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, a rinse water storage 22 is provided, which can store the water used in rinsing the laundry. This water (so-called "rinsing water") can be used for a later washing cycle, in particular if it is the previously desalinated and then used during rinsing, for which purpose the rinsing water reservoir 22 is connected via a line 23 ("first supply line for salted-out water ") connected to the valve 9, which also controls the fresh water supply.

In the lower region of the tub 1 is a second conductivity sensor as a second sensor. With the second conductivity sensor 20, the content of the rinsing water of inorganic and organic substances after rinsing can be determined. For this purpose, data stored in a memory of the program control 12 can be used for the relationship between the type and concentration of the salts or inorganic and organic substances and the conductivity. 21 means a display means for indicating the presence of the condition L greater than or equal to L (max) in the water to be used or the condition S less than or equal to S (min) in the rinse water in the tub 1. After comparing a measured content S of inorganic and organic substances with a lower predetermined value S (min) and the determination of reaching or falling below S (min), the water supply to the tub 1 and the washing drum 2 of the washing machine is completed and / or no further rinsing step is performed. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a frontal sectional view of a second embodiment of a washing machine having a soft water container and a common container for saline water and rinse water.

In the second embodiment shown in Figure 2, reverse osmosis results in a partially desalted water (herein called "soft water") being collected in a soft water tank 24. For this purpose, the desalting device 17 is connected to the soft water tank 24 via a first soft water line 25, which in turn is connected via a second soft water line 27 with the tub 1. Desalted water (soft water) can therefore be given as desired in the tub 1 and in the laundry drum 2.

Between the desalting device 17 and the soft water tank 24 is located in the first soft water line 25, a conductivity sensor 19 as the first sensor for Detecting a salinity of the water passed through the desalting device 17.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2, to the desalting device 17 is provided via a first line 26 for saline water, a reservoir 18 for water with a higher salt concentration. Since a reverse osmosis device is also used as the desalting device 17 in the second embodiment, the saline water resulting from the desalting is collected and stored for later use, e.g. for initial rinses. For this purpose, located between the hard water tank 18 and the tub, a second line 28 for salted-up water.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hard water tank 18 also serves as flushing water storage 22, which can store the water used in flushing. This water (so-called "rinsing water") can be used for a later washing cycle, in particular in the case of the previously desalinated and then rinsed water, therefore, in the second embodiment, the rinsing water reservoir 22 (hard water tank 22) is via a pipe 23 is connected to the valve 9 which also controls the supply of fresh water The second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 enables in particular a method which during one or more washes the steps

(a) desalting water from the water supply system by means of the desalting device, wherein the soft water thus generated is stored in the soft water tank and the hard water generated thereby is stored in the hard water tank;

(b) inserting hard water from the hard water tank in a first rinsing step; and

(c) inserting soft water from the soft water tank in a final rinse step

includes.

In the lower region of the tub 1 is a second conductivity sensor as a second sensor. With the second conductivity sensor 20, the content of the Rinse water of inorganic and organic substances are determined after rinsing. For this purpose, data stored in a memory of the program control 12 can be used for the relationship between the type and concentration of the salts or inorganic and organic substances and the conductivity. 21 indicates a display means for indicating the presence of the condition L greater than or equal to L (max) in the water to be used or the condition S less than or equal to S (min) in the rinse water in the tub 1. After comparing a measured content S of inorganic and organic substances with a lower predetermined value S (min) and the determination of reaching or falling below S (min), the water supply to the tub 1 and the drum 2 of the washing machine is completed and / or no further rinsing step is performed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 tub

2 laundry drum

3 axis of rotation of the drum

4 laundry hamper

5 scooping devices

6 wash liquor

7 laundry

8 domestic water network

9 valve

10 supply line

1 1 dispenser tray

12 program control

13 heating device

14 drive motor

15 pressure sensor

16 pump

17 desalting device

18 storage tanks for salted water, hard water tank

19 first conductivity sensor

20 second conductivity sensor

21 display device

22 rinse water storage

23 first supply line for salted-up water or rinse water

24 soft water tanks

25 first soft water line

26 First line for salted water

27 second soft water line

28 second line for salted water

Claims

claims

Washing machine with a tub (1), a washing drum (2), a water inlet system (8,9, 10) and a lye drainage system with a drain pump (16), a program control (12), a desalting device (17) for producing demineralized water and a rinse water storage (22), characterized in that the washing machine has a soft water tank (24) which is connected via the desalting device (17) with the water supply system (8,9,10).

Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the desalting device (17) is a reverse osmosis device, a nanofiltration device, an electrodialysis device and / or an ion exchanger.

Washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the desalting device (17) is a reverse osmosis device, a nanofiltration device or an electrodialysis device.

Washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the washing machine has a storage container (18) for salted up water.

Washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the hard water container (18) for salted-out water and the rinsing container (22) form a common container (18, 22) capable of receiving salted-out water or rinsing water.

Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first sensor (19) for determining the functionality of the desalting device (17).

Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally comprises a display device (21).

Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device (21) indicates the functionality of the desalting device (17).

Method for treating laundry in a washing machine with a suds container (1), a laundry drum (2), a water supply system (8, 9, 10), a suds outlet system with a suds pump (16), a program controller (12), a desalination apparatus (17 The method comprises at least one washing step and at least one rinsing step and in a rinsing step demineralized water is used, characterized in that the desalted water in the soft water tank (24 ) and the desalted water used in the rinsing step is stored in the rinse water reservoir (22) and reused in a later washing process.

A method according to claim 9, characterized in that desalted water is used in one of the last rinsing steps.

A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that desalted water is used in the last rinsing step.

Method according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that the first sensor (19) measures a salinity L in the water leaving the desalting device and compares with a predetermined upper limit L (max) and that upon reaching or exceeding L (max) a depletion of the desalting device (17) is displayed.

Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that a second sensor (20) in the tub (1) measures a content S of inorganic and organic substances of the liquid present there and compares with a predetermined value S (min) and that at Reaching or falling below S (min), a water supply is stopped and / or no further rinsing step is performed.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that it comprises the following steps during one or more washes:

(a) desalting water from the water supply system (8, 9, 10) by means of the desalting device (17), wherein the soft water thus generated is stored in the soft water tank (24) and the hard water generated thereby is stored in the hard water tank (18);

(b) inserting hard water from the hard water tank (18) in a first rinsing step; and

(c) inserting soft water from the soft water tank (24) in a final rinse step.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that in a second rinsing step between the first rinsing step and the last rinsing step water from the water inlet system and / or either soft water or hard water is used.