WO2015161985A1

WO2015161985A1 - Method for the hybrid treatment and rinsing of laundry items and washing machine suitable therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2015161985A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/056638
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yi-chun SHI
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2014-04-24
Filing date: 2015-03-26
Publication date: 2015-10-29
Also published as: EP3134570A1; CN106232891A; PL3134570T3; EP3134570B1; DE102014207742A1; DE102014207742B4; CN106232891B

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine for treating laundry items (7), comprising a drum (2) rotatably supported in a solution container (1), a drive motor (14) for the drum (2), a control device (12), a water feed system (8, 9, 10, 11), and a solution drainage system (20, 21), comprising the following steps: (a) specifying an amount of laundry items (7) in the drum (2), which amount of laundry items is to be treated; (b) adding a specified amount M₁ of water; (c) adding a specified amount D₁ of a treatment agent; and (d) performing a treatment step with the treatment solution resulting from steps (b) and (c), said treatment solution having a concentration C₁ of treatment agent, wherein the drum (2) is rotated at least at times at a rotational velocity ω₁, wherein after step (d) a treatment rinsing module is performed n times (n ≥ 1), wherein in each case the treatment solution is partially removed from the solution container (1) and water is added and the laundry items (7) are treated with a reduced concentration c_n+1 < c_n (n ≥ 1) of treatment agent in an (n+1)th treatment step. The invention further relates to a washing machine suitable for performing said method.

Description

Process for the hybrid treatment and rinsing of

Items of laundry and suitable washing machine

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine for the treatment of laundry items in a washing machine with a rotatably mounted in a tub drum, a drive motor for the drum, a control device, a water supply system, and a Laugenablaufsystem, comprising the steps:

(a) specification of an amount of laundry items to be treated in the drum;

(b) adding a predetermined amount of water to Mi;

(c) adding a predetermined amount of Di to a treating agent;

(d) carrying out a treatment step with the treatment liquor resulting from steps (b) and (c) with a concentration Ci of treatment agent, wherein the drum is rotated at least temporarily with a rotational speed ωι,

and a particularly suitable for this purpose washing machine.

The usual laundry treatment processes in a washing machine consist of several treatment steps (wetting phase, pre-wash, main wash, rinse), which are each associated with a more or less complete replacement of the aqueous liquid in the tub. Each laundry treatment step generally begins with the supply of fresh water, which is disposed of as wastewater at the end of each treatment step. In order to minimize the carry-over of treatment agent residues (for example detergents, softeners) into further treatment steps by residues of an aqueous liquid used in the tub, so-called spin-drying cycles are switched, in which the drum is rotated at a high number of revolutions. This requires a lot of electrical energy.

For the operation of a washing machine, the water consumption is an important operating size. For economic and ecological reasons, it is desirable to keep the water consumption as low as possible, whereby due to the mechanical engineering conditions and the suction behavior of the laundry items to be treated a minimum consumption of water is predetermined. In the treatment of soiled laundry in a washing machine is generally followed by the actual washing phase using suitable detergents, 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 detergent and, if appropriate, residues of impurities and detergent still adhering to the laundry items. The remaining on the fibers of the laundry after the rinsing phase traces of such substances are the lower, the more water is used in the rinse and / or the more frequently 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 and in view of a generally desirable economical use of water while maintaining a high rinsing efficiency.

In general, washing programs are being developed with a view to a higher loading ratio, lower energy consumption, lower water consumption, shorter washing programs and a better residual moisture content.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of operating a washing machine, i. for the treatment of laundry items in a washing machine, in which a treatment process, in particular a washing process, can be carried out in the most energy-saving and water-saving manner possible. In addition, the invention has for its object to provide a suitable for performing this method washing machine.

The term "washing machine" as used herein refers to both a pure washing machine having only a washing function and a washer-dryer which is a combination of a washing machine and a dryer.

The solution of this object is achieved according to this invention by a method for operating a washing machine for the treatment of laundry items and by a corresponding washing machine with the features of the corresponding independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and of the washing machine according to the invention are set forth in the corresponding dependent claims and the following description and the appended claims Drawing listed. Preferred embodiments of the washing machine according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and vice versa, even if this is not explicitly stated herein.

The invention thus relates to a method for operating a washing machine for treating items of laundry with a drum rotatably mounted in a tub, a drive motor for the drum, a control device, a water supply system and a lye drain system,

comprising the steps:

(a) specification of an amount of laundry items to be treated in the drum;

(b) adding a predetermined amount of water to Mi;

(c) adding a predetermined amount of Di to a treating agent;

and wherein after step (d), n times (n> l), a treatment-rinsing module is performed, wherein each of the treatment liquor is partially removed from the tub and water is added, and the laundry is respectively reduced in concentration c _{n +} i <c _n (n> l) are treated on treatment agent in a (n + l) th treatment step. Due to the decreasing concentration of treatment agent, however, it increasingly comes to a rinsing of the laundry items.

By "addition" of water or a treating agent is meant herein the addition to the tub and / or drum, since these are generally communicated through openings in the drum shell, water and treating agent will mix, wherein the concentration of the treating agent is generally the same in the tub and in the drum In a washing machine, different treatments may be performed In addition to a washing step, the term "treating step" herein also includes a Step of treatment with a fabric softener, a colorant or other chemical treatment agent.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the treatment steps are washing steps and the treating agent is a detergent.

The order of performing steps (a) to (c) may be different. Likewise, there may be a temporal overlap of steps (a) to (d). Preferably, however, first step (a) is carried out and then simultaneously or sequentially steps (b) and (c), wherein the order of steps (b) and (c) may be different. In general, however, a treatment agent is added together with the water, for example via an induction bowl of the washing machine.

In a treatment-rinsing module provided according to the invention, in each case the treatment liquor is partially removed from the tub and water is added, and the laundry items are each treated with a reduced concentration c _{n +} i <c _n (n> l) of treatment agent in a (n + l ) -th treatment step. This includes the preferred case that first the treatment liquor is partially removed from the tub and then water is added. However, it is also possible first to add water and then to partially remove the treatment liquor from the tub. Both steps can also be performed overlapping in time. The amount of treatment liquor removed and the amount of water added may be the same or different, each and independently. In particular, the added amount of water may also be greater than the removed amount of treatment liquor.

The term "treating liquor" is to be broadly understood to mean an aqueous liquor in which a treating agent is present. The term "aqueous liquor" as used herein includes, in particular, water and treating liquor. Since a washing machine used for the method according to the invention generally has a drain pump, the removal of the treatment liquor is generally carried out by pumping. In general, the treatment liquor is then disposed of. However, with only a very small loading of the treatment liquor with treatment agent and other substances can be provided that this is stored for reuse in the washing machine. A washing machine used in the method according to the invention preferably has a heating device for heating an aqueous liquid, which is generally arranged in the tub below the drum.

Preferably, in the process according to the invention, the water and / or the treatment liquor is heated by means of a heating device in the tub during at least one of the steps (a) to (d). This is particularly important for washing processes, which are generally washed with a washing liquor having a temperature of up to 90 ° C, depending on the type of laundry and the soiling.

The treatment flushing module can be designed very differently. In this case, preferably different factors such as the type and amount of laundry items and the type and amount of soiling of the laundry items are taken into account. Depending on this, in particular the duration and the number of treatment-flushing modules are configured and, if appropriate, a heating of the treatment liquor is also carried out.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the following steps are carried out n times (n> 1) after step (d):

(e) pumping out a quantity M _{Wn of} the treatment _liquor ;

(f) adding an amount of M _{n + 1} to water such that the concentration of treatment agent is reduced to c _{n +} i <c _n ;

(g) rotating the drum at a rotational speed ω _η + ι; and

(h) performing a (n + 1) th treatment step.

This is thus a preferred embodiment of a treatment-flushing module. When carrying out steps (e) to (h), the removed amount of treating liquor and the amount of water added may each be the same or different and independent of each other. In particular, the added amount of water can also be greater than the pumped amount of treatment liquor.

The pumped amount M _{Wn of} the treatment liquor can vary greatly according to the invention and can be matched to a laundry item to be treated. In addition, it is generally considered that the treatment liquor in the washing machine as so-called free liquor M _fF , as dead volume M _to t (volume of liquid between a tub bottom and the lower end of the drum) and as bound in the laundry pieces M _ge b of wash liquor can occur. If M _{Wn should be} greater than M _fF , a more or less pronounced rotation of the drum is recommended. The rotation of the drum in steps (d) and (g) is preferably carried out at a rotational speed in the range of 20 to 80 revolutions per minute, in particular at 40 to 60 revolutions per minute. The rotational speeds ωι and ω _{η +} ι may be the same or different, preferably they are the same. By removing treatment liquor, the absolute amount of treatment agent in the treatment liquor decreases, and the addition of water reduces the concentration of the treatment agent in the treatment liquor. It has been found that in the process according to the invention, the ratio c ₂ / Ci is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 0.8, and more preferably in the range of 0.6 to 0.7.

The steps (e) to (h) may also be referred to as a wash-rinse module when the treatment step is a washing step. The number n, which denotes in particular the number of repetitions of steps (e) to (h) and thus the number of such wash-rinse modules, is not particularly limited. However, it has been found to be particularly advantageous according to the invention that n is a natural number of 2 to 5, preferably a natural number of 2 to 4. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention n = 3, wherein preferably c ₂ in the range of 0.55 * Ci to 0.95 * Ci, c ₃ in the range of 0.2 * Ci to 0.5 * Ci and c _{4 is} in the range of <0.15 * Ci.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, n = 4, where preferably c _{2 is} in the range from 0.55 * Ci to 0.95 * Ci, c _{3 is} in the range from 0.35 * Ci to 0.5 * Ci, c _{4 is} in the range of 0, 1 * Ci to 0.25 * Ci and c _{5 is} in the range <0.05 * Ci.

If a heating device is present in the washing machine used, the aqueous liquid, ie in particular the water to be added or added and / or the treatment liquor, can also be heated in each of the washing-rinsing modules. The design of the wash-rinse modules with respect to the choice of temperature will generally depend on a detected or predetermined contamination of laundry items.

The wash-rinse modules generally have a duration of at least 5 minutes, preferably at least 15 minutes, to allow sufficient time for efficient washing and rinsing. Preferably, in the inventive method, during step (e) the drum at a rotational speed ü) is rotated _s ⁿ (η> 1) in the range from 70 to 1000 revolutions per minute. In this case, it is again preferred that the rotational speed GÜS ^{1 is} in the range of 70 to 200, more preferably in the range of 80 to 150 and very particularly preferably in the range of 90 to 120 revolutions per minute. For rotation of the drum in step (e), by the way, it is preferable that n <m and ω _δ ¹ < ^m ) _s ^m .

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, subsequent to the n-fold carrying out of a treatment-rinsing module with the drum, spinning is carried out at a rotational speed Ü) _F S in the range from 1000 to 2000 revolutions per minute. Moreover, it is preferred that the proportion of Mi, based on the sum ΣΜ _{η +} ι (η> 1), in the range of 15 to 45%, preferably in the range of 15 to 35% and most preferably in the range of 18 to 30% lies. In addition, it is also true that for the addition of an amount M _{n + 1} of water in at least one step (f), M _{n + 1} > M _n .

The loading of the drum with items of laundry which is important for embodiments of the method according to the invention can be determined by a suitable method of determination, for example by measuring the weight of the laundry, or it can be adjusted manually by a user of the washing machine. Likewise, the type of laundry can be determined by a suitable method of determination, such as an optical method, or manually adjusted by a user of the washing machine. The design of the treatment-flushing modules can be specified by a user of the washing machine or semi-or fully automatically made. Thus, in the washing machine used for carrying out the method according to the invention suitable sensors for the type and amount of laundry items and the type and amount of contaminants may be present, which allow a method according to the invention can be performed semi-automatically or fully automatically. Suitable sensors are in particular optical sensors, wherein a turbidity sensor is particularly suitable for the amount of contamination.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which a turbidity sensor is present in the washing machine used, a user can, for example, preselect a washing program in which, after step (d), a degree of contamination of the washing liquor is first measured by means of a turbidity sensor. Depending on the degree of contamination can then be carried out the further method and, in particular, the type and number of wash-flush modules can be configured appropriately. Preferably, in this embodiment, in the control device, a relationship between the sensor signal of the turbidity sensor and parameters of the treatment-rinsing modules such as duration, pumped Treatment liquor, amount of water supplied, rotation speed and duration deposited.

The invention also relates to a washing machine for treating items of laundry with a drum rotatably mounted in a tub, a drive motor for the drum, a control device, a water supply system, a lye drain system, wherein the control device is adapted to carry out a method comprising the steps:

(a) specification of an amount of laundry items to be treated in the drum;

(b) adding a predetermined amount of water to Mi;

(c) adding a predetermined amount of Di to a treating agent;

and wherein the control means is further arranged to perform a treatment-rinsing module after step (d) n times (n> l), wherein each of the treatment liquor is partially removed from the tub and water is added, and the laundry items respectively th treatment step are treated with a reduced concentration c _{+ n} i <c _n (n> l) of treatment agent in an (n + l).

The washing machine according to the invention preferably comprises a measuring device for determining an amount of aqueous liquid introduced into the tub. Preferably, a clock, a flow meter and / or a water level sensor are present as a measuring device. For example, when using a clock, the time can be measured in which water flows through a water supply system. When the water pressure is known and constant, by measuring the time in which a valve is opened, the amount of aqueous liquid, particularly tap water, introduced into the tub can be well estimated.

More accurate measurements are made possible by using a flow meter and / or a water level sensor. As a water level sensor too takes into account that some of the aqueous liquid has possibly already been absorbed by the laundry, according to the invention washing machines in which both a flow rate meter and a water level sensor are present are preferred.

Preferably, the washing machine according to the invention has two flow rate meters in order to be able to measure with a first flow meter the amount of supplied water or, for example, supplied via the dispensing tray treatment liquor and the amount of treatment liquor removed. Such measurements allow a particularly precise design of treatment flushing modules. The first flow meter is preferably arranged in a supply line to the tub.

The washing machine has a lye drainage system, which generally includes a drain pump and a sewer line. A second flow meter is then preferably present in the sewer, with which the amount of treatment liquor removed from the tub, e.g. Wash liquor, can be measured.

The washing machine according to the invention preferably contains in the tub and / or in the drum suitable sensors for the amount and type of laundry items and the type and amount of contamination. It is then possible for a method according to the invention to be carried out semi-automatically or fully automatically, taking into account, for example, a degree of contamination of the items of laundry and a loading of items of laundry. Suitable sensors for determining the type of items of laundry and of soiling are, in particular, optical sensors, with a turbidity sensor being particularly suitable for the amount of soiling.

Inventive washing machine and method according to the invention have numerous advantages. It is thus possible to carry out a washing process in an energy-saving and water-saving manner, in which a washing and rinsing of laundry items can be carried out in parallel. Moreover, the invention makes it possible to use high-speed intermediate spinning blades, which are generally carried out in a rinsing phase without. This not only leads to energy savings, but also protects the washing machine, as possible imbalances can not have such a strong effect. This results in a longer life of the washing machine. In addition, the laundry items are spared due to inventively possible reduced rotational speeds of the drum. Finally, the total duration of a washing program can be reduced without affecting, for example, a washing and rinsing result. It is also possible to largely reduce false messages due to foam.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the single FIGURE.

The figure shows a non-limiting embodiment of a washing machine according to the invention, in which a method according to the invention can be carried out. The washing machine contains a tub 1, in which a laundry drum 2 is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis 3 and can be driven by a drive motor 14. By Wäschemitnehmer 4 and 5 Schöpfeinrichtungen for the treatment liquor 6, here a wash liquor, in particular in the direction of rotation of the arrow 16 an intensive flooding of the laundry items 7 with wash liquor 6 and a reduction of not bound in the laundry 7 free liquor is achieved. The washing machine also has a liquor inlet system comprising a water connection fitting for the domestic water network 8, an electrically controllable valve 9 and a supply line 10 to the tub 1, which is guided here via a Waschmitteleinspüleinrichtung or Einspülschale 1 1, from the incoming water detergent portions in can transport the tub 1. The valve 9 may be controlled by a controller 12 in response to a program schedule that may be tied to a time schedule and / or the achievement of certain measurements of parameters (liquor level, caustic temperature, laundry drum speed, etc.) within the washing machine , The control device is designed in particular in order to be able to carry out a method according to the invention. Also located in the tub 1, a heater 13, which can also be switched by the controller 12. In the washing machine are finally also a turbidity sensor 17 for measuring the turbidity of the aqueous liquid 6 as a measure of their pollution and a water level sensor 15, for example, a pressure sensor, for measuring the amount of aqueous Liquid 6 in the tub 1 available. The turbidity sensor 17 makes it possible for the method according to the invention to be carried out semi-automatically or fully automatically as a function of a measured turbidity of the wash liquor 6, so that, in particular, the treatment-flushing steps can also be determined automatically as a function of the sensor signal.

In the feed line 10, in the embodiment shown here, there is also a first flow meter 18, with which the addition of water can be precisely controlled. The washing machine of the figure also has a lye drainage system 20 and 21, which in particular comprises a drain pump 20 and a sewer line 21 here. In the sewer line 21, a second flow meter 19 is provided in the embodiment shown here, with which the removed from the tub amount of wash liquor can be measured. Thus, by using first and second flow meters 18 and 19, respectively, a precise washing-rinsing module performance is possible in view of the amount of wash liquor removed and the amount of water added. The Messergebenisse of first and second flow meters 18 and 19 are generally supplied to the control device 12 for evaluation.

22 means the tub bottom and 23 the lower end of the drum. Thus, the volume of an aqueous liquid between the tub bottom 22 and the lower end 23 of the drum 2 is the dead volume V _to t. A washing program in this washing machine generally begins with the opening of valve 9, to lead water from the domestic water network 8 in the tub 1. A clock, not shown here can also be used to determine a filled amount of water over the time required for this purpose. Optionally required detergent is generally held in a dispenser 1 1 and rinsed together with water in the tub 1. The wash liquor 6 in the tub 1 is then heated in general by means of the heater 13 to a designated wash temperature. In carrying out the method according to the invention in this washing machine, in particular the following steps can be carried out:

(A) specification of an amount of laundry 7 to be washed in the drum 2;

(b) adding a predetermined amount of water to Mi;

(c) adding a predetermined amount of Di to a detergent; and

(d) carrying out a washing step with the wash liquor resulting from steps (b) and (c) with a concentration Ci of detergent, wherein the drum is rotated at least temporarily with a rotational speed ωι;

(e) pumping out a quantity M _{Wn of} the wash liquor;

(f) adding an amount of M _{n + 1} to water such that the concentration of detergent is reduced to c _{n +} i <c _n ;

(g) rotating the drum at a rotational speed ω _{η +} ι; and

(h) performing a (n + 1) -th washing step.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 tub

2 drum, laundry drum

3 rotation axis

4 laundry hamper

5 scooping devices

6 treatment liquor; Suds; water

7 pieces of laundry

8 domestic water network

9 valve

10 supply line

1 1 dispenser tray

12 control device

13 heating device

14 drive motor

15 water level sensor; pressure sensor

16 arrow for the direction of rotation of the drum; scooping direction

17 turbidity sensor

18 Apparatus for determining an amount of aqueous liquid introduced into the tub; first flow meter

19 Apparatus for determining an amount of aqueous liquid carried from the tub; second flow meter

20 lye pump

21 sewer pipe

22 lye container bottom

23 lower end of the drum

Claims

claims

Method for operating a washing machine for treating items of laundry (7) with a drum (2) rotatably mounted in a tub (1), a drive motor (14) for the drum (2), a control device (12), a water supply system (8, 9, 10, 11) and a liquor drainage system (20, 21), comprising the steps:

(A) specification of an amount of laundry items (7) to be treated in the drum (2);

(b) adding a predetermined amount of water to Mi;

(c) adding a predetermined amount of Di to a treating agent; and

(d) carrying out a treatment step with the treatment liquor resulting from steps (b) and (c) with a concentration Ci of treatment agent, wherein the drum (2) is rotated at least temporarily with a rotational speed ωι,

characterized in that

after step (d) n times (n> l), a treatment-rinsing module is carried out, wherein each of the treatment liquor is partially removed from the tub (1) and water is added, and the laundry items (7) each with a reduced Concentration c _{n +} i <c _n (n> l) are treated on treatment agent in a (n + l) -th treatment step.

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment steps washing steps and the treatment agent is a detergent.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after step (d) the following steps are carried out n times (n> 1):

(e) pumping out a quantity M _{Wn of} the treatment _liquor ;

(f) adding an amount of M _{n + 1} to water such that the concentration of treatment agent is reduced to c _n + i <c _n ;

(g) rotating the drum at a rotational speed ω _{η +} ι; and

(h) performing a (n + 1) th treatment step.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that during at least one of the steps (a) to (d) the water and / or the treatment liquor are heated by means of a heating device (13). 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ratio c ₂ / Ci is in the range of 0.5 to 0.8.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that n is a natural number of 2 to 5, preferably from 2 to 4, is.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that n = 3, wherein c ₂ in the range of 0.55 * Ci to 0.95 * Ci, c ₃ in the range of 0.2 * Ci to 0.5 * Ci and c _{4 is} in the range of <0.15 * Ci. 8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that n = 4, wherein c ₂ in the range of 0.55 * Ci to 0.95 * Ci, c ₃ in the range of 0.35 * Ci to 0.5 * Ci , c _{4 is} in the range of 0, 1 * Ci to 0.25 * Ci and c _{5 is} in the range <0.05 * Ci.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that during step (e) the drum (2) with a rotational speed ü) _s ⁿ (η> 1) is rotated in the range of 70 to 1000 revolutions per minute.

A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotational speed ω _δ ^{1 is} in the range of 70 to 200 revolutions per minute.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that n <m and cos ¹ <ü) _s ^m applies. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that subsequent to the n-times performing a treatment-flushing module with the Drum (2) spinning at a rotational speed Ü) _F S in the range of 1000 to 2000 revolutions per minute is performed.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the proportion of Mi, based on the sum ΣΜ _{η +} ι (η> 1), in the range of 15 to 45%.

A method according to claim 3, characterized in that for the addition of an amount M _{n + 1} of water in at least one step (f) that M _{n + 1} > M _n .

Washing machine for treating items of laundry (7) having a drum (2) rotatably mounted in a tub (1), a drive motor (14) for the drum (2), a control device (12), a water supply system (8,9,10, 1 1) and a lye discharge system (20, 21), wherein the control device (12) is set up to carry out a method, comprising the steps:

(b) adding a predetermined amount of water to Mi;

(c) adding a predetermined amount of Di to a treating agent;

characterized in that the control device (12) is additionally set up that after step (d) n times (n> l) a treatment-rinsing module is performed, in which each of the treatment liquor is partially removed from the tub (1) and Water is added, and the laundry items (7) are each treated with a reduced concentration c _{n +} i <c _n (n> l) of treatment agent in a (n + l) -th treatment step.