WO2015101873A1

WO2015101873A1 - Household appliance and method for washing and drying laundry

Info

Publication number: WO2015101873A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/067003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessio Zimar; Nicola Colucci
Original assignee: Indesit Company S.P.A.
Priority date: 2013-12-30
Filing date: 2014-12-17
Publication date: 2015-07-09
Also published as: ITPR20130110A1

Abstract

A household appliance for washing and drying laundry, comprising: - a washing and drying compartment (2) containing a drum (9) that is rotatable and designed to hold the laundry; a first conduit (3) for taking and re-introducing air for drying the laundry from and into the compartment (2); a condenser (4) for condensing the moisture present in the air for drying the laundry, said condenser (4) being located along the first conduit (3); heating means (5) for heating the air for drying the laundry, said means (5) being in thermal communication with at least one portion of said first conduit (3); a second conduit (6) for taking and re-introducing a washing liquid from and into the compartment (2); at least a first section (60) of said second conduit (6) being in thermal communication with said heating means (5) for heating the air for drying the laundry.

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR WASHING AND DRYING LAUNDRY

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The object of the present invention is a household appliance for washing and drying laundry and a method for treating laundry.

State of the art

Washer dryers in which the washing liquid is heated by a dedicated heating element located in the washing/drying compartment are known in the prior art.

During the step of drying the laundry, however, the air for drying the laundry is taken from the compartment and re-introduced in the same compartment after suitable treatment (dehumidification by means of a condenser and heating by means of an additional heating element located along said conduit).

Aim of the invention

An aim of the present invention is to make available a household appliance for washing and drying laundry in which the components thereof are optimized. A further aim of the present invention is to reduce the production costs of a household appliance for washing and drying laundry. The defined technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a household appliance and by a method for treating laundry comprising the technical characteristics set forth in one or more of the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a household appliance as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which:

-Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first design solution according to the present invention; -Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second design solution according to the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

A household appliance for washing and drying laundry is indicated by the reference number 1 in the accompanying figures. This household appliance 1 comprises a washing and drying compartment 2. This compartment 2 contains a drum 9 that is rotatable and designed to hold the laundry (to be washed and/or dried). The drum 9 brings about movement of the laundry, which facilitates the washing and drying processes. Conveniently, the household appliance 1 comprises a door that provides a user with access to the inside of the drum 9 so as to insert and/or remove laundry to be washed and/or dried.

The household appliance 1 further comprises a first conduit 3 for taking and re-introducing air from and into the compartment 2.

Conveniently, the household appliance 1 comprises a condenser 4 that removes at least part of the moisture present in the air flowing in the first conduit. This condenser 4 is located along the first conduit 3.

The household appliance 1 further comprises heating means 5 for heating the air flowing in the first conduit 3. The heating means 5 is in thermal communication with at least one portion of said first conduit 3. The heating means 5 performs its action downstream of the condenser 4 with respect to the direction of flow of the air in the first conduit 3.

As mentioned above, during the drying cycle, the air is taken from the compartment 2 and suitably treated prior to re-introduction in the compartment 2. This treatment comprises dehumidification (by the condenser 6) and heating (by the heating means 5).

The household appliance 1 further comprises a second conduit 6 for taking and re-introducing a washing liquid from and into the compartment

2.

The household appliance 1 conveniently comprises a drain pump 61 located along the second conduit 6. Advantageously, downstream of the pump 61 , a drain line 63 branches off from the second conduit 6. This drain line 63 discharges the washing liquid from the household appliance 1 . The passage of the washing liquid in said drain line 63 is regulated by a valve 62. Conveniently, this valve 62 is actuated by control means controlling the household appliance 1 .

The washing liquid typically consists of water possibly supplemented with detergent or other chemical agents that are laundering aids (fabric softeners, water softeners, etc.).

At least a first section 60 of said second conduit 6 is in thermal communication with said heating means 5. As can be inferred from the above indications, the heating means 5 is external with respect to the washing/drying compartment 2. In the preferred solution, the heating means 5 comprises an electric heating element 50. Advantageously, at least one part of the first section 60 passes inside the first conduit 3.

Conveniently, the household appliance 1 comprises a blower 7 comprising a fan 70 and a casing 71 in which the fan 70 is located. The casing 71 defines a portion of said first conduit 3. The air flowing through said first conduit 3 thus flows through said casing 71 . The casing 71 thus has an inlet and a delivery side. The fan 70 serves to enable the generation of the air flow along the first conduit 3.

Advantageously, at least one part of the first section 60 of said second conduit 6 passes inside the blower 7. This facilitates the heating of the washing liquid passing through the second conduit 6 by the air that flows against the exterior of the second conduit 6. Advantageously, at least one part of the first section 60 of the second conduit 6 is made of a metal material, for example an aluminium alloy or stainless steel. Heat exchange is thus facilitated.

Conveniently, at least one part of the first section 60 of the second conduit 6 extends in a coiled path. This affords better heating of the liquid passing through it.

Advantageously, the casing 71 of the blower 7 is made of metal. In a particular design solution, at least one part of the first section 60 of the second conduit 6 could be in contact with said casing 71 so as to facilitate the passage of heat by conduction from the casing 71 to the liquid flowing in said first section 60 of the second conduit 6. This solution would be particularly effective if both the casing 71 and the first section 60 are made of a metal material.

Again, with the aim of facilitating the transfer of heat, the heating element 50 could be in contact with the casing 71 and/or at least one part of the first section 60 of the second conduit 6. The heating element 50 is conveniently found inside the casing 71 .

Advantageously, the household appliance 1 comprises a tray 8 for adding detergent. The tray 8 is typically user-accessible from the outside. With reference to the solution illustrated by way of example in Figure 1 , the second conduit 6 passes through said tray 8. This makes it easier to clean the tray 8, for example to remove residue of detergent (a typical case is that of residue from powdered detergent that could deposit in the tray 8 after the wash).

With reference to the design solution of Figure 2, the second conduit 6 empties into said washing compartment 2 above the drum 9. This allows for better contact of the washing liquid with the laundry placed in the drum 9. In fact, the washing liquid drops by the force of gravity and flows against the drum 9, improving the saturation and/or heating of the laundry.

The object of the present invention is also a method for treating laundry placed in a washing/drying compartment of washer dryer. In particular, the laundry is placed in a drum 9 that is rotatable and located inside the washing/drying compartment 2. Advantageously, this method is implemented by a household appliance 1 having one or more of the characteristics described hereinabove. The method comprises the step of washing the laundry. This washing step, in turn, comprises the steps of: -taking air from the washing/drying compartment 2 by means of a first conduit 3; -taking a washing liquid from the washing/drying compartment 2 by means of a second conduit 6. Advantageously, at least in part this step is carried out simultaneously with the step of taking air by means of the first conduit 3. In particular, the washing liquid is taken, the washing liquid being concentrated at the lower bottom of the tub;

-heating said air flowing in the first conduit 3 and said washing liquid flowing in said second conduit 6 by means of a shared heating element 50;

-re-introducing the heated air and heated washing liquid into the washing/drying compartment (2).

In this manner the heating of the laundry will be attributable to heating action owing to the fact that the laundry items are immersed in the heated liquid and also to the fact that the air flowing in the first conduit 3 heats up and as a result heats the compartment 2 in which the laundry is placed. Conveniently, the step of heating said air that is flowing in the first conduit 3 and said washing liquid flowing in said second conduit 6 comprises: - heating, by means of the heating element 50, the inside of a casing 71 of a blower 7, in which the air taken from the compartment 2 flows, said casing 71 contributing to the definition of the first conduit 3;

- having the washing liquid flow inside a first section 60 of the second conduit, said first section 60 being in thermal communication with the heating element 50.

Conveniently, at least one part of the first section 60 is within (or in contact with) the casing 71 . Advantageously, at least one part of the first section 60 can be shaped in the form of a coil.

The first conduit 3 defines a line for dehumidification and heating the air that in a subsequent drying step will be used for drying the laundry.

In the solution illustrated by way of example in Figure 1 , the step of reintroducing the washing liquid in the washing/drying compartment 2 comprises having said liquid flow in a tray 8 for adding a detergent so as to carry out a procedure for cleaning the tray 8 and removal of detergent residue.

In the solution illustrated by way of example in Figure 2, the step of reintroducing the washing liquid in the washing/drying compartment 2 comprises insertion of said liquid by means of an inlet mouth located above the drum 9 so as to facilitate the heating and/or saturation of the laundry.

Advantageously, the method also comprises a step of drying the laundry. The step of drying the laundry follows the step of washing the laundry. The step of drying the laundry comprises the steps of:

-taking air from the compartment 2 by means of the first conduit 3;

-dehumidifying the air by means of a condenser 4 located along the first conduit 3;

-heating the air by means of said heating element 50, which is advantageously located along the first conduit 3;

-re-introducing the air into the washing/drying compartment 2 in order to dry the laundry. The washing liquid does not circulate in the second conduit 6 during the drying step.

The present invention affords a plurality of advantages.

A first significant advantage lies in the fact that with a sole source of heat (typically an electric heating element), both the liquid utilized during the wash and the air flowing along the first drying conduit 3 can be heated.

This allows for significant optimization of the components, given that the presence of a specific heating element for heating the washing liquid becomes redundant. Moreover, the elimination of an electric heating element that heats the liquid found in the washing compartment also allows for advantages in terms of safety (or in any case, it reduces the number of regulatory compliance measures to be adopted, given that there is no use of an electric heating element immersed in the washing liquid - and this has significant effects on costs).

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterizing the invention. Moreover, all details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be of any type, according to needs.

Claims

1 . A household appliance for washing and drying laundry, comprising: -a washing and drying compartment (2) containing a drum (9) that is rotatable and designed to hold the laundry;

-a first conduit (3) for taking and re-introducing air from and into the compartment (2);

-a condenser (4) for condensing the moisture present in said air, said condenser (4) being located along the first conduit (3);

-heating means (5) for heating said air, in thermal communication with at least one portion of said first conduit (3);

characterized in that it comprises a second conduit (6) for taking and reintroducing a washing liquid from and into the compartment (2); at least a first section (60) of said second conduit (6) being in thermal communication with said heating means (5).

2. The household appliance according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a blower (7) comprising a fan (70) and a casing (71 ) wherein the fan (70) is located, said casing (71 ) defining a portion of said first conduit (3).

3. The household appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one part of the first section (60) of said second conduit (6) passes inside the casing (71 ).

4. The household appliance according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the casing (71 ) of the blower (7) is made of metal, at least one part of the first section (60) of the second conduit (6) being in contact with said casing (71 ).

5. The household appliance according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that said heating means (5) comprises a heating element (50), said heating element (50) being in contact with the casing (71 ) and/or at least one part of said first section (60) of the second conduit (6).

6. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tray (8) for adding detergent or another chemical product that is a laundering aid; said second conduit (6) passing through said tray (8).

7. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second conduit (6) empties into said washing compartment (2) above the drum (9).

8. A method for treating laundry placed in a washing/drying compartment (2) of a washer dryer, said method comprising the step of washing the laundry, which, in turn, comprises the steps of:

-taking air from the washing/drying compartment (2) by means of a first conduit (3);

-taking a washing liquid from the washing/drying compartment (2) by means of a second conduit (6);

-heating said air flowing in the first conduit (3) and said washing liquid flowing in said second conduit (6) by means of a shared heating element (50);

-re-introducing at least part of the heated air and heated washing liquid into the washing/drying compartment (2).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the step of reintroducing the washing liquid into the washing/drying compartment (2) comprises having said liquid flow in a tray (8) for adding a detergent so as to carry out a procedure for cleaning the tray (8).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a step of drying the laundry, said step of drying the laundry following the step of washing the laundry; the step of drying the laundry comprising the steps of:

-taking air from the compartment (2) by means of the first conduit (3);

-dehumidifying the air by means of a condenser (4) located along the first conduit (3);

-heating the air by means of said heating element (50) that is located along the first conduit (3);

-re-introducing the air into the washing/drying compartment (2) in order to dry the laundry.