WO2016055310A1

WO2016055310A1 - Laundry care appliance having an ozone producing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2016055310A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/072450
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Bräunlich; Ingo Schulze; Hartmut Schaub; Frieda Probst; Hans Eglmeier; Matthias Dreßler
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2014-10-08
Filing date: 2015-09-29
Publication date: 2016-04-14
Also published as: DE102014220355B3; CN106795681B; EP3204548A1; RU2671185C1; EP3204548B1; CN106795681A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance (100) for the care of laundry, said laundry care appliance (100) comprising an inner tub (105) for accommodating laundry, a load detection device (107) for detecting a laundry load of the inner tub (105), an ozone producing unit (109) for producing ozone, and a control device (108). The control device (108) is designed to determine an amount of ozone depending on the detected laundry load of the inner tub (105) and the ozone producing unit (109) is designed to produce the determined amount of ozone.

Description

Laundry care device with an ozone generating device

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with an ozone generating device.

During a laundry care process in a laundry care appliance, such as e.g. a washing machine or a tumble dryer, the laundry to be cared for is cleaned with washing liquor or dried by warm air. The supplied laundry may already contain germs at the beginning of the laundry care process, which have been transferred from the wearer of the laundry to the laundry. Germs include e.g. Algae, archaea, amoebae, flagellates, bacteria, protozoa or viruses. Since germs in the laundry can sometimes cause unpleasant odors, a reduction in the germ burden may be beneficial to reduce unpleasant odors in the laundry caused by the germs.

DE 10 2012 209 21 1 A1 describes a water-conducting domestic appliance with a nebulizing device for atomizing water in a water tank and with a treatment gas generator for generating treatment gas. It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care device in which an odor reduction and a micro-reduction of laundry is achieved.

This object is achieved by articles having the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figure, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a laundry care apparatus for maintaining laundry, wherein the laundry care apparatus comprises a laundry drum for receiving laundry, a load detection device for detecting a laundry load of the laundry drum, an ozone generating device for generating ozone, and a control device, wherein the Control device is formed, a quantity of ozone depending on the detected laundry load to determine the laundry drum, and wherein the ozone generating means is adapted to generate the predetermined amount of ozone.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is generated by the determination of the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected laundry load of the laundry drum by the controller, the amount of ozone by the ozone generating means to reduce the germ and odor load of the laundry during the laundry care process, without that a large amount of excess ozone remains after completion of the laundry process in the laundry care device. By not leaving a large amount of excess ozone in the laundry machine after completing the laundry process, the cooldown after the laundry process can be reduced. As a result, the clean laundry can be removed immediately after a short time interval after completion of the laundry care process, thereby reducing the overall duration of the laundry care program.

The amount of ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum together with wash liquor during a laundry care process. The amount of ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum during a laundry maintenance process together with an amount of water or wash liquor generated by a mist generator. The amount of ozone may be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum together with air during a dry laundry process without supplying the supplied ozone with water or washing liquor to the laundry in the laundry drum. Depending on the laundry load of the laundry care device different amounts of ozone must be supplied to the laundry drum to achieve a care success. In order to ensure that a beneficial amount of ozone is supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum, a larger amount of ozone must be generated in a large amount of laundry than is the case with a smaller amount of laundry. By accurately detecting the laundry load or type by the load detection device, the controller may determine the exact amount of ozone that must be generated to achieve germ and odor reduction. A laundry care device is understood to mean a device which is used for laundry care. This can be a large appliance, such as a washing machine or a tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the load detection device is designed to detect a laundry load or a laundry volume in the laundry drum as the laundry load in order to obtain the detected laundry load.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the advantageous amount of ozone can be determined by the control device by detecting the laundry weight or the laundry volume of the laundry in the laundry drum to ensure a reduction of germs and odors in the laundry.

Various methods are known for determining the laundry weight or the laundry volume of laundry in the laundry drum, which are hereby included.

For example, the detection of the laundry weight by the load detection device can be carried out by a weight measurement of the laundry in the laundry drum. For this purpose, the loading detection device can comprise a weighing device which can detect the laundry weight after the laundry has been added to the laundry drum. A weighing device has the advantage, for example, in a washing machine, that the laundry weight in the laundry drum can be determined before the supply of washing liquor to the laundry. This prevents, for example, that the detected laundry weight is adulterated by the wetting of the laundry in the laundry drum with wash liquor.

For example, the detection of the laundry weight or the laundry volume by the load detecting device may also be performed by detecting the wetting of the Laundry done in the laundry drum of a washing machine. Here, the amount of wash liquor is measured, which is supplied to the tub during a washing process and is absorbed by the laundry in the laundry drum. For example, the load detection device may also detect the amount of wash liquor supplied to the tub. A pressure sensor located in the suds container can detect the hydrostatic pressure of the suds in the suds container after the amount of suds has been supplied and thereby determine the level of the suds in the suds container. From a comparison of the liquor container supplied amount of wash liquor with the level of the wash liquor in the tub can be determined by the Beladungserfassungsseinnchtung a quantity of wash liquor, which was taken up by the laundry in the laundry drum. In a known type of fabric of the laundry and the resulting specific absorbency of the laundry, the laundry weight or the laundry volume can be determined.

For example, the load detection device may also be configured to determine, in a first step, a total amount of wash liquor supplied to the tub by measuring the hydrostatic pressure of the wash liquor in the tub of a washing machine. The laundry in the laundry drum absorbs a portion of the supplied wash liquor. On the basis of the retained amount of washing liquor can be concluded on the laundry weight or on the laundry volume of the laundry in the laundry drum. For example, the load detection device in a laundry care device may also be configured to detect the laundry weight of the laundry in the laundry drum by slumping the vibrating system under loading. The laundry drum comprises a vibrating system which is suspended on springs. With known spring constant and elongation of the springs can be closed on the force that is affected by the weight of the laundry in the laundry drum on the vibrating system. After consideration of the damping of the vibration system due to static friction and after taking into account the empty weight of the vibration system can be based on the bagging of the vibrating system of the laundry drum on the laundry weight of laundry located in the laundry drum are closed.

Thus, one or more of the mentioned methods enables a measurement of the laundry weight or the laundry volume, so that an amount of ozone which is advantageous for the laundry care process can be determined by the control device in order to reduce the odor and germ load of the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the load detection device is further configured to detect a type of laundry in the laundry drum, wherein the control device is designed to determine the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected laundry load and the type of laundry.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the advantageous amount of ozone can be determined by the control device by detecting the type of laundry and the laundry load of the laundry in the laundry drum to ensure odor and germ reduction in the laundry.

The type of laundry to be cleaned influences the required amount of ozone. In a type of laundry having a large surface area, such as e.g. Towels, a large amount of ozone is needed to perform an odor and germ reduction of the laundry. As another example, used here are pieces of laundry with cotton fibers, which have a large surface area and therefore can bind a large amount of ozone. Accordingly, when using laundry with cotton fibers, a larger amount of ozone must be supplied to the laundry drum than is the case with other laundry fibers.

In a type of laundry which can hold a small amount of ozone, such as polyester fibers, a small amount of ozone is needed, whereby the amount of ozone supplied to the laundry can be reduced. Laundry items with synthetic fibers that have a smooth surface absorb a small amount of ozone. Consequently, a small amount of ozone must be added to synthetic fibers to ensure odor and germ reduction. The precise determination of the laundry load and the type of laundry by the load detection device can thus ensure the determination of an advantageous amount of ozone by the control device in order to achieve an effective odor and germ removal of the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the ozone generating device is designed to generate the amount of ozone under the action of UV light or by dielectrophoresis. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the generation of a constant amount of ozone over a longer period can be ensured by the generation of ozone by dielectrophoresis or by UV light. In a dielectrophoresis-based ozone generating device, ozone is generated from molecular oxygen as part of a silent electrical discharge by two electrodes of opposite charge. In an advantageous embodiment, ozone is produced by dielectrophoresis. By electrophoresis ozone can be produced with little effort and with an ozone concentration of between 3% by volume and 6% by volume. In an ozone producing device, where ozone is generated under the action of ultraviolet light, ozone is generated from molecular oxygen by the action of ultraviolet light. In UV light-based ozone generating equipment, ozone can be produced at a concentration between 0.5% by volume and 1% by volume. Thus, by means of an ozone generating device based on UV light or dielectrophoresis, the amount of ozone can be generated to bring about effective odor and germ reduction in the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the ozone generating device is designed to produce an ozone-air mixture.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the generation of an ozone-air mixture direct introduction of ozone with ambient air in the laundry drum is possible. As a result, a simplification of the method is achieved because of a device for generating an ozone-water mist mixture, such as can be dispensed with by a water fog generating device. The generated ozone-air Mixture may be introduced directly into the laundry drum and may thereby contact the laundry in the laundry drum to allow effective odor and germ removal.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the control device is designed to determine an ozone concentration value as a function of the detected laundry load or type of laundry, wherein the ozone generating device is designed to generate the amount of ozone having the determined ozone concentration value. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device can be adapted to the amount of ozone that is required in the laundry care process. In order to achieve an effective odor and germ reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum, an ozone concentration value must be determined. The particular ozone concentration value must be chosen to ensure effective odor and germ reduction in the wash. At the same time, the particular ozone concentration value must not be set too high, since excess ozone may otherwise remain in the laundry care appliance after the end of the laundry care operation.

In this respect, a determination of an amount of ozone by the control device as a function of the laundry load or type of laundry is advantageous in order to determine a favorable ozone concentration. With a large laundry load of the laundry drum, a large amount of ozone is absorbed by the laundry. Therefore, with a large amount of laundry or a large volume of laundry, a larger amount of ozone is needed to produce a certain ozone concentration value than a small amount of laundry. The ozone concentration value can be a maximum of 50 ppm. The ozone concentration value may preferably be at most 20 ppm. The ozone concentration value may more preferably be at most 15 ppm. Since the laundry absorbs part of the ozone supplied during the ozone treatment, the ozone concentration may drop after the supply of the ozone and after reaching the maximum determined ozone concentration. The ozone concentration value after ingestion of part of the ozone supplied by the Laundry depends on the laundry load or the type of laundry. The determination of the ozone concentration value as a function of the detected laundry load or type of laundry and the generation of the amount of ozone having the determined ozone concentration value by the ozone generating device enables effective odor and germ reduction during the laundry care process.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the control device is designed to determine a time interval of the ozone production as a function of the detected laundry load or type of laundry, wherein the ozone generating device is designed to generate the amount of ozone in the specific time interval.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device can be adapted to the amount of ozone that is really needed in the laundry care process. The supplied amount of ozone must be chosen so that it ensures an effective odor and germ reduction of laundry.

Often, the ozone generating device is designed such that ozone at a constant rate, in particular with a fixed amount of ozone per unit time, generated and supplied to the laundry drum. Since in this case a regulation of the amount of ozone generated by a change in the rate of ozone production is not possible, the regulation of the supplied amount of ozone is carried out by determining the time interval in the ozone of the laundry drum. The time interval may include a start time, upon reaching the ozone generating means begins with the generation of ozone. The time interval may include an end time at which the ozone generating device terminates the generation of ozone.

It is also possible to perform different time intervals of the ozone generation in succession or to separate the time intervals by pauses. By choosing different time intervals, different amounts of ozone can be generated and supplied to the laundry drum, and thereby it can be achieved that a certain amount of ozone is supplied to the laundry. By determining the time interval in which ozone is generated and supplied to the laundry drum, a effective odor and germ reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a fill level sensor, wherein the fill level sensor is designed to detect a level of wash liquor in the tub, and wherein the control device is configured, the amount of ozone as a function of the detected fill level and as a function of determine the detected laundry load or type of laundry. This achieves the technical advantage that the amount of wash liquor in the tub of a washing machine detected by the level sensor correlates with the laundry load or the laundry type, whereby the amount of ozone can be determined by the controller, which is advantageous to an effective Odor and germ reduction of the laundry to achieve.

The amount of wash liquor in the tub detected by the level sensor correlates with the laundry load or laundry type of the laundry in the laundry drum because the laundry binds a portion of the wash liquor in the tub. For example, with a large amount of laundry, a large amount of wash liquor is bound through the laundry. Accordingly, in a large amount of laundry, a larger amount of ozone for odor and germ reduction is required than is the case with a smaller amount of laundry. Thus, the amount of ozone can be determined by the controller so that an effective odor and germ reduction of the laundry is achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device comprises a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is designed to detect a hydrostatic pressure of wash liquor in the tub, and wherein the control device is configured, the amount of ozone depending on the detected hydrostatic pressure and in dependence determined by the detected laundry load or type of laundry. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the detected during a washing process hydrostatic pressure of wash liquor in the tub correlated with the laundry load or the laundry type of laundry in the laundry drum of the laundry care device, whereby an advantageous amount of ozone can be determined by the controller. The pressure sensor can be located on the bottom of the tub and detects the hydrostatic pressure of wash in the tub. The pressure sensor detects the hydrostatic pressure that the column of wash liquor in the tub is applying to the bottom of the tub. The laundry located in the laundry drum can bind a portion of the wash liquor in the tub depending on the laundry load or type of laundry, whereby the detected by the pressure sensor hydrostatic pressure of the water column is reduced. Depending on the detected hydrostatic pressure by the pressure sensor and depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry, the ozone generating device can be automatically regulated. Thus, it is ensured that the beneficial amount of ozone is determined to enable effective odor and germ reduction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a fresh water line, a wash liquor line and a flow sensor, wherein the fresh water line is designed to supply water to the tub, wherein the wash liquor line is adapted to drain wash liquor from the tub, wherein the flow sensor is formed, a flow rate of water in the fresh water line or wash liquor in the wash liquor line to detect in a further time interval, wherein the flow sensor is designed to determine based on the detected flow rate of water or wash liquor in the further time interval, the introduced amount of water or the discharged amount of wash liquor, and wherein the control device is formed, the amount of ozone depending on the particular introduced amount of water or depending on the derived amount of wash liquor in the w to determine the other time interval and depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that can be concluded by the detected flow rate in the detected further time interval, the supplied amount of water or the derived amount of wash liquor in the further time interval of a laundry process, in turn, with the laundry load or the type of laundry Laundry in the laundry drum correlates, whereby the generated amount of ozone can be advantageously determined by the controller. The flow sensor can detect the volume flow of water that flows into the tub in the further time interval via the fresh water line. The flow sensor can detect the volume flow of wash liquor which flows out of the tub in the further time interval through the wash liquor line. The laundry present in the laundry drum of the laundry care appliance binds a portion of the water flowing into the tub or binds a portion of the wash liquor which drains from the tub. The amount of water bound by the laundry depends on the laundry load, such as the laundry weight or volume, or the type of laundry.

By comparing the amount of the inflowing water, or the amount of effluent washing liquor, which is based on the flow rate in the detected further time interval, can be concluded that the amount of water or wash liquor, which is absorbed by the laundry. By determining the amount of water or wash liquor bound by the wash, it is possible, with a known wash weight, to conclude the type of laundry or, in the case of a known type of laundry, to deduce the wash weight. Thus, the beneficial amount of ozone may be determined by the controller as a function of the sensed flow rate in the further time interval and depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry to enable effective odor and germ removal of the laundry.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device comprises an ozone removal device, wherein the ozone removal device is designed to remove a further amount of ozone from the laundry care device. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that is prevented by the use of the ozone removal device that excess ozone can be removed from the laundry care device. The ozone removal device may comprise an activated carbon filter by which the further amount of ozone is converted by chemical reaction, for example into carbon dioxide, and thus can be removed from the laundry care device. Alternatively, the ozone removing means may comprise means by which the further amount of ozone can be bound in the laundry care appliance and thereby removed. The ozone removal device, such as the activated carbon filter, can be controlled so that the further amount of ozone, or the excess ozone, after completion of the ozone treatment of the laundry is removed from the laundry care device. This is particularly advantageous when the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device exceeds the amount of ozone really needed for the laundry care process. By using the ozone removal device, the additional amount of excess ozone can be removed from the laundry care device. As a result, an effective odor and germ reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum can be ensured.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises an oxygen generating device, wherein the control device is designed to determine an amount of oxygen as a function of the detected laundry load or the laundry type, and wherein the oxygen generating device is designed to generate the specific amount of oxygen and to supply the ozone generating device. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by the generation of oxygen by the oxygen generating means and the supply of the generated oxygen to the ozone generating means, the efficiency of the ozone generation by the ozone generating means can be increased. Ozone is generated in the ozone producing device by an electric discharge reaction of molecular oxygen. If the oxygen concentration in the ozone generating means is increased, then the efficiency of the ozone generating reaction can be increased. When the oxygen concentration is increased in comparison with the oxygen concentration in the ambient air, a larger amount of is produced in a same time interval Ozone generated by the ozone generating device. The generated ozone can be supplied to the laundry in the laundry drum of the laundry care appliance. This increases the effectiveness of odor and germ removal during the laundry care process. In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises an ozone sensor, wherein the ozone sensor is designed to detect an ozone concentration value in the laundry drum, and wherein the control device is configured, the amount of ozone in dependence on the detected ozone concentration value and in dependence on the detected To determine laundry load or the detected type of laundry.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that by the use of the ozone sensor, the ozone concentration value can be determined in the laundry drum, and thereby the generation and addition of the advantageous amount of ozone to the laundry in the laundry drum can be ensured by the ozone generating means. The ozone sensor allows for the direct transfer of the detected ozone concentration value in the laundry drum to the ozone generating device. The ozone generating device can thus respond without delay and automatically to a too low or too high ozone value in the laundry drum, and increase or reduce the production of ozone. By setting the advantageous ozone concentration value in the laundry drum, an effective odor and germ removal of the laundry in the laundry drum can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the control device is designed to stop the generation of ozone by the ozone generating device when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold value.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an automatic control of the ozone concentration in the laundry drum of the laundry care device is made possible by the combination of the ozone sensor with the control device. In this way, an effective odor and germ removal of laundry in the laundry drum can be achieved. In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a signal generating device, wherein the signal generating device is designed to generate a signal when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that excess ozone can be displayed in the laundry care device by combining the ozone sensor with the signal generating device. The signal generating means may generate a signal when the ozone concentration value in the laundry drum exceeds a predetermined ozone concentration threshold.

The predetermined ozone concentration threshold may include a threshold that is selected such that at an ozone concentration. The predetermined ozone concentration threshold may be in a range between 20 μg m ³ and 200 μg m ³ . The signal generated by the signal generating means may comprise an acoustic signal or an optical signal, such as a light signal. The signal may also include an internal signal to the laundry care device that results in a reduction or complete stop of the production and supply of ozone to the laundry drum by the ozone generating device. The signal can also include an internal signal to the laundry care device, whereby, for example, the door of the laundry care device is locked until the detected ozone concentration value in the laundry drum falls below the predetermined ozone concentration value again.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

It shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a laundry care device.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a general laundry care device 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care device 100 may optionally include a reservoir 101 into which detergent or other liquid substances can be filled when the laundry care device 100 includes a washing machine. The wash liquor required for the laundry care process is formed when water is supplied to the storage tank 101 and mixes there with the detergent or with the other liquid substances. The interior of the laundry care device 100 may optionally include a tub 103 in which the generated wash liquor is received. A quantity of laundry may be introduced into a laundry drum 105, which is at least partially introduced into the optionally present tub 103.

The laundry care device 100 comprises a load detection device 107, which is designed to detect a laundry load of the laundry drum 105. In particular, the load detection device 107 may detect the laundry weight, the laundry volume, or the laundry type of laundry in the laundry drum 105. The loading detector 107 may be e.g. a weight detecting means for determining a laundry weight of the laundry in the laundry drum 105, such as e.g. a weighing device. The load detecting means 107 may alternatively comprise means for detecting the laundry volume or the laundry type in the laundry drum 105, such as e.g. a device for detecting the wetting of the laundry in a washing machine. The load detection device 107 is in contact with a control device 108 via a load connection 110, which can process the information about the detected laundry load or the type of laundry and can use the information to determine the amount of ozone generated by an ozone generating device 109. The controller 108 is in contact with the ozone generating means 109 via an ozone generating compound 11 1 to control the ozone generating means 109 to generate the amount of ozone determined by the controller 108.

For loading and laundry type-dependent ozone treatment existing measuring systems in the laundry care device 100, such as flow or pressure sensors, can be used. Alternatively, even offline detected ozone concentration curves can be used to determine an advantageous amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device 109 and the laundry drum 105 is supplied. The ozone generating device 109 may supply ozone together with a washing liquor, or with a mist or a mist through a mist generating device, to the laundry in the washing drum. The ozone generating device 109 may alternatively supply ozone during a dry laundry process together with air to the laundry in the laundry drum without wetting the laundry in the washing drum 105 with water or wash liquor.

The ozone generating device 109 includes conventional ozone generators capable of generating gaseous ozone, such as an ozone generator that generates ozone by dielectrophoresis. The ozone generating device 109 may deliver the generated ozone as an ozone-air mixture.

The controller 108 is configured to determine an amount of ozone depending on the detected laundry load or the type of laundry and supply the determined amount of ozone to the laundry drum 105. The type of laundry detected by the load detection device 107 may have a significant influence on the required amount of ozone.

The loading detector 107 may be e.g. detect that the laundry in the laundry drum 105 mainly consists of synthetic fibers. Since synthetic fibers have a relatively smooth surface capable of absorbing a small amount of water and a small amount of ozone, upon detection of synthetic fibers by the load detecting means 107, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating means 109 can be reduced ,

Alternatively, the load detecting means 107 may detect that the laundry in the laundry drum 105 is mainly made of cotton. Since cotton fibers have a large surface area, cotton fibers can absorb a large amount of water and a large amount of ozone. For this reason, upon detection of cotton fibers, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating means 109 can be increased. This can be achieved, for example, by an extension of the time interval of the ozone supply by the ozone generating device 109 or in the Frame of a renewed ozone supply by the ozone generating device 109 happen at another time of the laundry process.

Thus, it is achieved by the use of the control device 108 and the ozone generating device 109 that a determined depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry amount of ozone of the laundry drum 105 is fed, which is advantageous to the odor and germ load of the laundry in the laundry drum 105 effectively to reduce.

By the accurate determination of the advantageous amount of ozone is achieved that by the amount of ozone supplied to the laundry drum 105, an effective odor and germ reduction of the laundry in the laundry drum 105 is achieved, being prevented that excess ozone after the laundry care process in the laundry care device 100 remains. For this reason, it is important that the generation of ozone by the ozone generating device 109 also takes into account the time required for the ozone supplied to the laundry drum 105 to be degraded again.

By accurately determining the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generating device 109 and supplying the generated amount to the laundry drum 105, an effective reduction of the odor and germ load of the laundry can be achieved.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 laundry care device

101 storage tank

103 tubs

105 laundry drum

107 load detection device

108 control device

109 ozone generating facility

1 10 loading connection

1 1 1 ozone production compound

Claims

A laundry care apparatus (100) for maintaining laundry, wherein the laundry care apparatus (100), a laundry drum (105) for receiving laundry, a load detecting means (107) for detecting a laundry load of the laundry drum (105), an ozone generating means (109) for generating ozone and a control device (108), characterized in that

the control device (108) is designed to determine an amount of ozone in dependence on the detected laundry load of the laundry drum (105), and in that

the ozone generating means (109) is adapted to generate the predetermined amount of ozone.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Loading detection device (107) is designed to detect a laundry load or a laundry volume in the laundry drum (105) as a laundry load in order to obtain the detected laundry load.

Laundry care apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the load detection device (107) is further formed, a

Type of laundry in the laundry drum (105) to capture, and that

the controller (108) is configured to control the amount of ozone in

Depending on the detected laundry load and the type of laundry to determine.

The laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ozone generating device (109) is designed to generate the amount of ozone under the action of UV light or by dielectrophoresis. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ozone generating device (109) is designed to produce an ozone-air mixture.

The laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (108) is adapted to determine an ozone concentration value depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry, and that

the ozone generating means (109) is adapted to generate the amount of ozone having the determined ozone concentration value.

A laundry care appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (108) is adapted to determine a time interval of the ozone production in dependence on the detected laundry load or type of laundry, and that

the ozone generating means (109) is adapted to generate the amount of ozone in the determined time interval.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a filling level sensor that

the level sensor is adapted to detect a level of wash liquor in the tub (103), and that

the controller (108) is adapted to determine the amount of ozone depending on the detected level and depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a pressure sensor that

the pressure sensor is adapted to detect a hydrostatic pressure of wash liquor in the tub (103), and that the control device (108) is designed to determine the amount of ozone as a function of the detected hydrostatic pressure and as a function of the detected laundry load or type of laundry.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a fresh water line, a wash liquor line and a flow sensor that

the fresh water line is designed to supply water to the tub (103)

the wash liquor line is designed to drain the wash liquor from the tub (103)

the flow sensor is designed to detect a flow velocity of water in the fresh water line or of wash liquor in the wash liquor line in a further time interval

the flow sensor is designed to determine the introduced amount of water or the amount of discharged wash liquor in the further time interval on the basis of the detected flow rate of water or wash liquor, and in that

the controller (108) is adapted to determine the amount of ozone depending on the particular amount of water introduced or depending on the amount of removed wash liquor in the further time interval and on the detected laundry load or type of laundry.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises an ozone removal device, and in that the ozone removal device is designed to remove a further amount of ozone from the laundry care appliance (100).

Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises an oxygen generating device that the controller (108) is adapted to determine an amount of oxygen depending on the detected laundry load or laundry type, and that

the oxygen generating means is adapted to generate the predetermined amount of oxygen and to supply it to the ozone generating means (109).

The laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) comprises an ozone sensor, that the ozone sensor is adapted to detect an ozone concentration value in the laundry drum (105), and that

the controller (108) is adapted to determine the amount of ozone depending on the detected ozone concentration value and depending on the detected laundry load or type of laundry.

The laundry care apparatus (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that the control means (108) is arranged to stop the generation of ozone by the ozone generating means (109) when the detected ozone concentration value reaches a predetermined ozone concentration threshold.

Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that the

Laundry care device (100) comprises a signal generating means, and that the signal generating means is adapted to generate a signal when the detected ozone concentration value a predetermined

Ozone concentration threshold reached.