Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F25/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air 
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
  • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
  • D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/18—Washing liquid level
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/28—Air properties
  • D06F2103/30—Pressure
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/02—Water supply
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/08—Draining of washing liquids
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/10—Temperature of washing liquids; Heating means therefor
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/28—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F35/00—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
  • D06F35/005—Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying

Definitions

• the present invention concerns the field of laundry washing-drying techniques.
• the present invention refers to a laundry washing-drying machine capable of performing a more efficient control of the zeolite particles deposited onto the washed-dried laundry during a washing-drying cycle.
• laundry washing-drying machines i.e. laundry washing machines which can also dry laundry
• Laundry washing-drying machines generally comprise an external casing provided with a washing tub which contains a rotatable perforated drum where the laundry is placed.
• a loading/unloading door ensures access to the drum.
• Laundry washing-drying machines typically comprise a water inlet circuit and a products supply unit for the introduction of water and washing/rinsing products (i.e. detergent, softener, etc.) into the tub.
• water and washing/rinsing products i.e. detergent, softener, etc.
• Known laundry washing-drying machines are also provided with water draining devices comprising a drain pump that may operate both during the initial phases of the washing program and at the end of the same to drain the dirty water.
• a complete washing-drying program typically includes different phases during which the laundry to be washed- dried is subjected to adequate treatments.
• a washing-drying cycle usually comprises a wetting phase, a main washing phase, a rinsing phase, a final spin phase, and a hot-air drying phase.
• the wetting phase is followed by a main washing phase during which the drum is rotated at relatively low speed (typically 40-50 rpm); during the wetting phase and/or during the main washing phase the liquid contained in the tub is typically heated to a predetermined temperature based on the washing program selected by the user.
• relatively low speed typically 40-50 rpm
• the drum is rotated at a relatively low speed, so as to apply a mechanical cleaning action to the laundry.
• the drum is typically rotated at a quite high rotation speed (typically comprised between 300 - 1100 rpm), in such a way that dirty washing liquid (i.e. water mixed with detergent) is extracted from the laundry, and this dirty washing liquid is drained by the water draining devices.
• a rinsing phase which usually comprises one or more rinsing cycles.
• clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, the drum is rotated at low speed (typically 40-50 rpm), so that water is absorbed by the laundry, and then the drum is subjected to a spin at a quite high speed (typically comprises between 300-1100 rpm), so as to extract from the laundry water, detergent and possible dirty particles not previously removed: contemporaneously or after this spin, the dirty water extracted from the laundry is drained from the tub to the outside by the water draining devices.
• a spin phase is conducted to squeeze the laundry and improve water extraction.
• the spin of the last rinsing cycle is performed at a speed higher (typically comprised between 800-1800 rpm) than the previous ones, so as to extract from the laundry as much water as possible; the last spin is therefore the final spin phase of the washing-drying cycle.
• a hot-air drying phase is performed, during which hot air (heated by an electric heater or a heat pump system for example between 70°C and 100°C), is circulated into the washing drum, so that it passes through the laundry, removing moisture from the latter.
• the drum is typically rotated at low speed (e.g. 40-50 rpm), so as to favour the contact of hot air with all the laundry contained in the drum.
• zeolite particles touched by hot air, releases water and in the end, also due to the slow movements of the drum which tumble the laundry, they come out from the laundry, appearing as an unpleasant white powder on the laundry when the latter is extracted from the machine; in addition these zeolite particles can obstruct one or more of the components of the hot air circuit (for example the evaporator typically present in the latter)
• the object of the invention is providing a laundry washing-drying machine provided with a washing-drying cycle which guarantees that the laundry is clean (and in particular not dirtied by any white powder due to the presence of zeolite particles) at the end of the washing-drying cycle.
• the applicant has found that by keeping, between the end of a main washing phase and the second of two or more rinsing cycles of a rinsing phase of a washing-drying cycle, the speed of the rotatable drum of a washing drying machine below a threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, zeolite particles contained in the detergent do not deeply penetrate into the laundry weave, so that they can be easily removed together with water by the water draining devices of the machine, and they do not appear as an unpleasant white powder on the laundry when the latter is extracted from the machine after the end of the washing-drying cycle.
• Such a laundry washing-drying machine of the present invention is of the type comprising:
• washing tub containing a rotatable drum adapted to receive laundry
• washing product supplier to supply a washing products into said washing tub
• control unit configured for making said laundry washing-drying machine to perform a washing-drying cycle.
• Such a washing- drying cycle comprises the following phases:
• a rinsing phase comprising two or more rinsing cycles wherein clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, said rotatable drum is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum, and then said drain pump is activated for draining rinse water from said washing tub, e) a final spin phase during which said rotatable drum is rotated at a speed above a threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter, and said drain pump is activated for draining liquid from said washing tub;
• control unit is configured for making said laundry washing-drying machine to perform also a standard washing cycle comprising:
• bl a standard main washing phase during which said rotatable drum is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum; cl) a first standard drain phase in which said rotatable drum is rotated at a speed above a threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter, and in which said drain pump is activated for draining liquid from said washing tub;
• a standard rinsing phase comprising one or more rinsing cycles wherein clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, said rotatable drum is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum, said drum is rotated at a spin speed adapted to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter, and said drain pump is activated for draining rinse water from said washing tub,
• the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during the first of said two or more rinsing cycles of said rinsing phase d) of said washing-drying cycle is higher than the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during said one or more rinsing cycles of said standard rinsing phase dl) of said standard washing cycle.
• the laundry washing-drying machine of the present invention in addition to be allowed to perform a washing-drying cycle as disclosed above with no preliminary spinning phase between the end of the main washing phase b) and the second of said two or more rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d), is also allowed to perform a standard washing-drying cycle, wherein a first spin phase occurs during a first standard drain phase cl).
• said control unit is configured for making said laundry washing-drying machine to perform also a standard washing cycle comprising:
• bl a standard main washing phase during which said rotatable drum is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum; cl) a first standard drain phase in which said rotatable drum is rotated at a speed above a threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter, and in which said drain pump is activated for draining liquid from said washing tub;
• a standard rinsing phase comprising one or more rinsing cycles wherein clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, said rotatable drum is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum, said drum is rotated at a spin speed adapted to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter, and said drain pump is activated for draining rinse water from said washing tub,
• the number of rinsing cycles of said rinsing phase d) of said washing-drying cycle is higher than the number of rinsing cycles of said standard rinsing phase dl) of said standard washing cycle.
• both the features separately disclosed above (adding more water to a single rinsing cycle and adding one or more rinsing cycles) can be contemporaneously present, with the effect of improving more and more the rinsing effect.
• the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during any rinsing cycle may be lower than the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during a previous rinsing cycle.
• the following rinsing cycles can be advantageously performed using a lower amount of clean water; which reduces the overall water consumption of the washing-drying cycle.
• the speed of said rotatable drum is kept below said threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum.
• said wetting phase a) and/or said main washing phase b) and/or an intermediary phase between them comprise a heating phase during which the water introduced into said washing tub is heated at a predetermined temperature based on the washing-drying program selected by the user.
• the introduction of the heating phase allows the water introduced into the washing tub to be heated in order to obtain better washing results.
• the heating phase k) allows the fibers of the laundry to be released before the final spin phase e), which allows obtaining a better water extraction from the laundry.
• said laundry heating phase k) is performed by introducing clean water into said washing tub and heating said clean water in order to produce a certain amount of cold vapour that heats the laundry contained in said rotatable drum.
• said rotatable drum is rotated at a spin speed adapted to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter.
• a spinning phase is present.
• the amount of zeolite particles within the laundry is already highly reduced, and so the risk that the detrimental effect of zeolite particles deeply penetrating into the laundry is highly reduced too; for this reason one or more spinning phases at a speed at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum (having the effect of better removing water mixed with dirt particles and detergent from the laundry) can be provided in one or more of the rinsing cycles following the first one.
• said rinsing phase d) of said washing-drying cycle comprises three or more rinsing cycles, and, starting from the second of said three or more rinsing cycles, at the end of at least two rinsing cycles, before and/or contemporaneously to the activation of said drain pump for draining rinse water from said washing tub, said rotatable drum is rotated at a spin speed adapted to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter.
• the speed at which said rotatable drum is rotated in order to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum is higher than the speed at which said rotatable drum is rotated in order to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum in a previous rinsing cycle.
• the invention is related to a washing-drying cycle in a washing-drying machine comprising:
• washing tub containing a rotatable drum adapted to receive laundry; - a water supply circuit to supply water into said washing tub;
• washing product supplier to supply a washing products into said washing tub
• control unit configured for making said laundry washing-drying machine to perform said washing-drying cycle
• washing-drying cycle comprises the following phases:
• a rinsing phase comprising two or more rinsing cycles wherein clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, said rotatable drum is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum, and then said drain pump is activated for draining rinse water from said washing tub, e) a final spin phase during which said rotatable drum is rotated at a speed above a threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter, and said drain pump is activated for draining liquid from said washing tub;
• the speed of said rotatable drum is kept below said threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum.
• the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during any rinsing cycle is lower than the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during a previous rinsing cycle.
• said rotatable drum is rotated at a spin speed adapted to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter.
• said rinsing phase d) of said washing-drying cycle comprises three or more rinsing cycles, wherein, starting from the second of said three or more rinsing cycles, at the end of at least two rinsing cycles, before and/or contemporaneously to the activation of said drain pump for draining rinse water from said washing tub, said rotatable drum is rotated at a spin speed adapted to stick said laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum, so as to squeeze said laundry and extract water from the latter.
• the speed of said rotatable drum is kept below said threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum.
• said wetting phase a) and/or said main washing phase b) comprise a heating phase during which the water introduced into said washing tub is heated at a predetermined temperature based on the washing-drying program selected by the user.
• a laundry heating phase k) in which laundry is heated.
• said laundry heating phase k) is performed by introducing clean water into said washing tub and heating said clean water in order to produce a certain amount of cold vapour that heats the laundry contained in said rotatable drum.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a laundry washing-drying machine according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic frontal view of the internal of the laundry washing-drying machine of Figure 1, in which the air treating system has not been illustrated;
• FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the laundry washing- drying machine of Figure 1 with some parts removed;
• FIG. 4 shows the air heating device of the laundry washing-drying machine of Figure 1 ;
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic lateral cross section of the laundry washing- drying machine of Figure 1, in which the water supply circuit has not been illustrated.
• a laundry washing-drying machine 1 is illustrated, in which a control unit 13 (only schematically illustrated) is configured for allowing the laundry washing-drying machine 1 to perform a washing-drying cycle according to the invention.
• the laundry washing-drying machine 1 comprises an external casing or housing 2, in which a washing tub 3 is provided that contains a drum 4 where the laundry 100 to be treated (i.e. washed and/or dried) can be loaded, as illustrated in Figure 5.
• a washing tub 3 in which a washing tub 3 is provided that contains a drum 4 where the laundry 100 to be treated (i.e. washed and/or dried) can be loaded, as illustrated in Figure 5.
• the housing 2 is advantageously provided with a loading/unloading door 8 which allows access to the drum 4.
• the tub 3 is preferably suspended in a floating manner inside the housing 2, advantageously by means of a number of coil springs and shock-absorbers, not illustrated.
• the drum 4 is advantageously rotated by an electric motor 110, which preferably transmits the rotating motion to the shaft of the drum 4, advantageously by means of a belt/pulley system.
• the motor can be directly associated with the shaft of the drum 4.
• the lower portion 3a of the tub 3 preferably comprises a seat or sump 15 suitable for receiving a heater device 10.
• the seat 15 is made in a single piece with the tub 3, for example by injection moulding.
• the heater device 10 preferably comprises an electrical resistor of serpentine type.
• the heater device 10 is advantageously horizontally placed in the seat 15, and it extends preferably substantially from the rear part up to the front part of the tub 3.
• gap 16 is defined, as illustrated for example in Figure 2.
• a water supply circuit 5 is arranged in the upper part of the laundry washing-drying machine 1 and is suited to supply water into the tub 3.
• the water supply circuit of a laundry washing-drying machine is well known in the art, and therefore it will not be described in detail.
• the laundry washing-drying machine 1 advantageously comprises a preferably removable drawer 6 provided with various compartments suited to be filled with washing and/or rinsing products (i.e. detergent D, softener, etc.).
• washing and/or rinsing products i.e. detergent D, softener, etc.
• the water is supplied into the tub 3 from the water supply circuit 5, advantageously by making it flow through the drawer 6 and then through a supply pipe 18.
• the water which reaches the tub 3 can, in this case, selectively contain one of the products contained in the compartments of the drawer 6, or such water can be clean and in this case it may reach the tub 3 directly, for example bypassing the compartments of the drawer 6, or passing through an empty compartment of the drawer 6.
• a further separate water supply pipe can be provided, which supplies exclusively clean water into the tub 3.
• the water supply circuit 5 also preferably comprises a water flow sensor, not illustrated, for example a flow meter, which makes it possible to calculate the quantity of water supplied into the tub 3.
• a water flow sensor not illustrated, for example a flow meter, which makes it possible to calculate the quantity of water supplied into the tub 3.
• Laundry washing-drying machine 1 advantageously comprises a water outlet circuit, called also drain circuit, 25 suitable for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion 3a of the tub 3.
• the water outlet circuit 25 advantageously comprises a drain pump 26, a first pipe 27 connecting the tub 3 to the drain pump 26 and an outlet pipe 28 ending outside the housing 2.
• the first pipe 27 is fluidly connected to the seat 15.
• the water outlet circuit 25 is suited to drain the liquid, i.e. dirty water or water mixed with washing and/or rinsing products, from the tub 3 to the outside.
• the water outlet circuit 25 advantageously comprises a filtering device, not shown in the figures, placed between the bottom of the tub 3 and the drain pump 26 and adapted to retain all the undesirable bodies (for example buttons that have come off the laundry, coins erroneously introduced into the laundry washing machine, etc.) which could damage or obstruct the drain pump 26.
• a filtering device not shown in the figures, placed between the bottom of the tub 3 and the drain pump 26 and adapted to retain all the undesirable bodies (for example buttons that have come off the laundry, coins erroneously introduced into the laundry washing machine, etc.) which could damage or obstruct the drain pump 26.
• This filtering device can preferably be removed, and then for example cleaned, for example through a gate 14 placed advantageously on the front of the housing 2 of the laundry washing-drying machine 1.
• Activation of the drain pump 26 drains the liquid, i.e. dirty water or water mixed with washing and/or rinsing products, from the tub 3 to the outside.
• Laundry washing-drying machine 1 may advantageously further comprises a recirculation circuit 30, illustrated only in Figure 2, adapted to drain liquid from the the lower portion 3a of the tub 3 and to re-admit such a liquid into an upper region of the tub 3.
• a recirculation circuit 30, illustrated only in Figure 2 adapted to drain liquid from the the lower portion 3a of the tub 3 and to re-admit such a liquid into an upper region of the tub 3.
• the recirculation circuit 30 preferably comprises the drain pump 26 and a recirculation pipe 31.
• the recirculation pipe 31 advantageously ends with a terminal nozzle 31a, placed advantageously in an upper region of the tub 3.
• the exit of the drain pump 26 is advantageously fluidly connected to a valve, not illustrated, properly controlled in order to allow selective drainage of the water exiting drain pump 26 towards the outside through the outlet pipe 28, or towards the upper region of the tub 3 through the recirculation pipe 31.
• the recirculation circuit may comprise a dedicated recirculation pipe connecting a bottom region of the tub with a higher region of the latter, and provided with a dedicated recirculation pump; in this case the recirculation circuit is advantageously completely separated from the water outlet circuit.
• the recirculation circuit is properly realized for transferring a portion of a liquid from a region of the tub to another region of the tub in order to enhance absorption of washing liquid by the laundry.
• the laundry washing-drying machine 1 advantageously comprises a liquid level sensor device 19 suited to sense (or detect) the liquid level inside the tub 3.
• the sensor device 19 preferably comprises a pressure sensor which senses the pressure in the tub 3. From the values sensed by the sensor device 19 it is possible to determine the level of the liquid inside the tub 3.
• laundry washing-drying machine 1 may preferably comprise (in addition to or as a replacement of the pressure sensor) a level sensor (for example mechanical, electro-mechanical, optical, etc.) adapted to sense (or detect) the liquid level inside the tub 3.
• laundry washing-drying machine 1 advantageously comprises a control unit 13, connected to the various parts of the laundry washing-drying machine 1 in order to ensure its operation.
• the control unit 13 is preferably connected to the water inlet circuit 5, the water outlet circuit 25, the heating device 10 and the electric motor and receives information from the various sensors provided on the laundry washing- drying machine 1, like the pressure sensor 19, a temperature sensor, etc.
• Laundry washing-drying machine 1 advantageously comprises an interface unit 12, connected to control unit 13, accessible to the user and by means of which the user may select and set the washing/drying parameters, like for example a desired washing and/or drying program depending, for example, on the type and on the dirty-level of the products to wash.
• the washing/drying parameters like for example a desired washing and/or drying program depending, for example, on the type and on the dirty-level of the products to wash.
• other parameters can optionally be inserted by the user, for example the value of the washing temperature, the different rotating speed of the drum 4 in each of the laundry washing phases, the duration of washing program, the load in terms of weight of the laundry to be washed, etc.
• the laundry washing machine 1 is advantageously provided with an air treating system 50 which is structured to circulate inside the tub 3 a stream of hot air HI having a low moisture content, and which flows through the drum 4 and over the laundry 100 located inside the drum 4 to dry the laundry 100.
• an air treating system 50 which is structured to circulate inside the tub 3 a stream of hot air HI having a low moisture content, and which flows through the drum 4 and over the laundry 100 located inside the drum 4 to dry the laundry 100.
• the air treating system 50 is preferably structured for gradually drawing air from tub 3, cooling down the stream of moisture-laden air H2 exiting the tub 3, so as to extract and retain the surplus moisture in the moist air, and heating the dehumidified air to a predetermined temperature, preferably higher than that of the moist air arriving from tub 3. Finally the heated, dehumidified air HI is conveyed again into the tub 3, where it flows over the laundry 100 stored inside the drum 4 to dry the laundry 100, as said above.
• the air treating system 50 is advantageously housed inside the external casing or housing 2, and preferably comprises an air cooling device 60, an air heating device 70 arranged downstream of the air cooling device 60 and an air circulating device 140.
• the air cooling device 60 is preferably attached to the back of tub 3 and is fluidly connected to the tub 3, preferably at an outlet hole 3b provided on the bottom of the tub 3 itself.
• the air cooling device 60 is structured to cool down the air H2 arriving from tub 3 so as to extract the surplus moisture in the air drawn from tub 3.
• the air heating device 70 is preferably fluidly connected to both the tub 3 and the air cooling device 60, so as to allow the dehumidified air to flow from the air cooling device 60 to the tub 3, and it is structured to heat up the dehumidified air arriving from the air cooling device 60 before this air returns back into tub 3 through an inlet hole 3c.
• the air cooling device 6 preferably comprises a cold- water condenser 160 which is preferably, but not necessarily, arranged on the back of tub 3, and which preferably uses a rain/shower of cold water arriving advantageously from a water mains 300 to cool down and dehumidify the moist air H2 that arrives from tub 3 and flows upwards in the air cooling device 60 up to the top of the later.
• the moist air H2 advantageously flows upwards through a condensing duct 38.
• the air heating device 70 is preferably rigidly attached to the top of tub 3.
• the air heating device 70 comprises a tubular body 120 and a heating element 130.
• the tubular body 120 is preferably structured for being firmly fixed to the tub 3, preferably on the top of the latter, and preferably comprises a first opening or mouth 12a fluidly connected to, i.e. in direct communication with, the air cooling device 6, and a second opening or mouth 12b fluidly connected to, i.e. in direct communication with, the inside of a 17 bellows connecting the tub 3 to the housing 2, or fluidly connected directly to the inside of tub 3, preferably close to the front opening of tub 3 in correspondence of its inlet hole 3c.
• the heating element 130 preferably comprises a resistor, or other equivalent heating element, which is housed inside the tubular body 120, and is structured to heat up, when electrically powered, the air that flows through the tubular body 120.
• the air circulating device 140 preferably comprises an electric centrifugal fan 40, or other equivalent air circulating device, which is preferably housed inside the tubular body 120, preferably upstream of resistor 130, and is structured to circulate through the tubular body 120 an airflow that subsequently flows across the tub 3 and the air cooling device 60 for finally returning back to tubular body 120.
• an electric centrifugal fan 40 or other equivalent air circulating device, which is preferably housed inside the tubular body 120, preferably upstream of resistor 130, and is structured to circulate through the tubular body 120 an airflow that subsequently flows across the tub 3 and the air cooling device 60 for finally returning back to tubular body 120.
• the centrifugal fan 40 is preferably recessed on a portion of the tubular body 120 suitably shaped to form the outer volute or impeller housing of centrifugal fan 40.
• the air heating device 70 furthermore comprises one or more temperature sensors 37 which are located inside, or faced to the inside of, tubular body 120 and are structured for measuring the temperature of the air HI flowing inside tubular body 120, preferably close to the second opening or mouth 12b of the tubular body 120.
• the air treating system 50 therefore, allows the laundry 10 to be dried when the laundry washing and drying machine is performing a drying cycle, usually after a washing cycle.
• a condenser cleaning cycle is also preferably performed.
• the laundry to be washed is first placed inside the drum 4.
• the selection of the desired washing program may be performed before placing the laundry into the drum 4.
• control unit 13 is configured for allowing the laundry washing-drying machine 1 to perform a washing-drying cycle comprising the phases illustrated in the following.
• a laundry wetting phase a) is activated wherein a quantity of detergent D together with a first quantity of water W is introduced into the tub 3, substantially forming a washing solution intended to wet the laundry.
• the introduction of the quantity of detergent D takes place preferably through the water inlet circuit 5; the quantity of detergent D, be it powder or liquid, is preferably brought out of the apposite compartment of the drawer 6 by the first quantity of water W that passes through the proper compartment of the drawer 6 (in different embodiments, the quantity of detergent D and the first quantity of water W may be advantageously introduced singularly, i.e. one independently from the other, into the tub 3, preferably, but not necessarily, at different times).
• substantially all the detergent D and the water W preferably reach the lower portion 3a of the tub 3 without any absorption from the laundry. That is advantageously guaranteed by the advantageous lateral position of the supply pipe 18 with respect to the tub 3.
• the detergent D and the water W in fact, fall down until the lower portion 3a of the tub 3 by flowing inside the annular gap 17 between the tub 3 and the drum 4.
• detergent D and the water W can be provided directly to the laundry 100.
• a main washing phase b) is activated, during which the washing drum 4 is rotated at speed causing the laundry to tumble inside said rotatable drum 4, exerting a mechanical washing action on the laundry contained in the washing tub 3.
• Such a main washing phase b) is constituted by several repeated time sections, each of them being formed by a first period of time, for example about 13 seconds, during which the washing drum 4 is rotated at a rotation speed, for example at about 40 rpm, followed by a second, shorter period of time of about 3 seconds during which the washing drum 4 is stopped until it does not rotate.
• a first period of time for example about 13 seconds
• a second, shorter period of time of about 3 seconds during which the washing drum 4 is stopped until it does not rotate.
• Each of such repeated time sections constituted by such a first period of time and such a second, shorter period of time is repeated, for example, 10 to 15 times.
• a first drain phase c) occurs, in which the drain pump 26 is activated for draining liquid from the washing tub 3.
• the washing drum 4 is rotated at a rotation speed, for example at 50 rpm, so as to cause at least part of the water and detergent contained in the laundry to be extracted from the latter and drained off the washing tub 3.
• a rinsing phase d) comprising preferably four rinsing cycles occurs, wherein clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, the rotatable drum 4 being rotated at speed, for example at about 50 rpm, causing the laundry to tumble inside the rotatable drum 4, and then the drain pump 26 is activated for draining rinse water from the washing tub 3.
• a threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4 is advantageously set at 90 (for a drum diameter of 490 mm).
• the speed of the rotatable drum 4 is advantageously kept at 50 rpm, below the 90 rpm threshold speed value.
• the rotation speed value lower than the threshold speed value, no spinning phase occurs during this portion of the laundry washing cycle. Therefore the risk that zeolite particles deeply penetrate into the laundry, so that they can't be removed together with water by the water draining devices, appearing as an unpleasant white powder on the laundry when the latter is extracted from the machine, is avoided.
• the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during any rinsing cycle is advantageously lower than the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during a previous rinsing cycle.
• the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during the first, second, third and four rinsing cycle is, respectively, 10 litres, 9 litres, 9 litres and 8 litres (such an amount may be equal in each of two or more successive rinsing cycles, as long as it is lower than the amount in a previous rinsing cycle).
• a minor amount of added clean rinse water is required as the laundry washing cycle proceeds.
• a final draining phase e) is activated, during which the washing drum 4 is rotated at a speed 1400- 1600rpm, which is above the 90 rpm threshold speed value, and the drain pump 26 is activated for draining liquid from said washing tub 3.
• a hot-air drying phase (f) is activated, during which hot air is circulated into the rotatable drum 4 so that it passes through the laundry, removing moisture from the latter.
• such a wetting phase a) and/or such a main washing phase b) may further comprise an additional heating phase during which the water introduced into the washing tub 3 is heated at a predetermined temperature, for example from 20 °C to 60 °C, based on the washing program selected by the user.
• a laundry heating phase k) in which the laundry is heated, by introducing clean water into the washing tub 3 and heating said clean water in order to produce a certain amount of cold vapour that heats the laundry contained in the rotatable drum 4.
• a laundry heating phase k) in which the laundry is heated, by introducing clean water into the washing tub 3 and heating said clean water in order to produce a certain amount of cold vapour that heats the laundry contained in the rotatable drum 4.
• the rinsing phase d) comprised four rinsing phases; however, such a rinsing phase d) may comprise any number of rinsing phases greater than 1 (at least 2), as long as, between the end of the main washing phase b) and the second of such two or more rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d), the speed of the rotatable drum 4 is kept below the threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4, in order not to have a spin phase in that portion of the laundry washing cycle.
• control unit 13 is configured for allowing the laundry washing-drying machine 1 to perform the same washing- drying cycle as disclosed above with reference to the first embodiment with the following additional features in the rinsing phase d) of the laundry- washing cycle.
• the rotatable drum 4 is rotated at a spin speed of about 350-650 rpm which is higher than the 90 rpm threshold speed value.
• a rotation speed of the rotatable drum 4 at the end of each rinsing cycle is adapted to allow the laundry to stick to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4, so as to be squeezed for the water extraction.
• the speed at which the rotatable drum 4 is rotated in order to stick the laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4 is higher than the speed at which the rotatable drum 4 is rotated in order to stick the laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4 in a previous rinsing cycle.
• the third and fourth rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) are respectively of 850-1100 rpm and of 1400-1600 rpm.
• a spin phase occurs at the end of each rinsing cycle at a continuous increasing rotation speed of the rotatable drum 4 in the presence of a continuous reduced addition of clean rinse water to obtain better squeezing of the laundry inside the washing drum.
• the rinsing phase d) may comprise any number of rinsing phases greater than 1 (at least 2), as long as the requirements related to the speed of the rotatable drum 4 between the end of the main washing phase b) and the second of such two or more rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) are still maintained.
• control unit is configured for allowing the laundry washing-drying machine 1 to perform, in addition to the washing-drying cycle as disclosed above with reference to the first or to the second embodiment, also a standard washing cycle comprising the following phases:
• cl a first standard drain phase in which the rotatable drum is rotated at a speed of preferably 850-1100 rpm above the 90 rpm threshold speed value at which the laundry sticks to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4, so as to squeeze the laundry and extract water from the latter, and in which the drain pump 26 is activated for draining liquid from the washing tub 3;
• a standard rinsing phase comprising one or more rinsing cycles wherein clean rinse water is first added to the laundry, the rotatable drum 4 being rotated at speed of preferably 50 rpm causing the laundry to tumble inside the rotatable drum 4, and adapted to stick the laundry to the lateral surface of the rotatable drum 4, so as to squeeze the laundry and extract water from the latter, and the drain pump 26 is activated for draining rinse water from the washing tub 3, wherein the amount (for example 20 litres) of clean rinse water added to the laundry during the first of the two or more rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) of the washing-drying cycle disclosed above in the first or in the second embodiment is higher than the amount of 18 litres of clean rinse water added to the laundry during such one or more rinsing cycles of the standard rinsing phase dl) of above.
• control unit is configured for allowing the laundry washing-drying machine 1 to perform, in addition to the washing-drying cycle as disclosed above with reference to the first or to the second embodiment, also a standard washing cycle which differs from the standard washing cycle disclosed above with reference to the third embodiment only for the fact that the number (for example four) of rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) of the washing- drying cycle is higher than the number of rinsing cycles (for example three) of the standard rinsing phase dl) of the standard washing cycle, maintaining the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during the first of the two or more rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) of the washing-drying cycle equal to the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during such one or more rinsing cycles of the standard rinsing phase dl).
• control unit is configured for allowing the laundry washing-drying machine 1 to perform, in addition to the washing-drying cycle as disclosed above with reference to the first or to the second embodiment, also a standard washing cycle which differs from the standard washing cycle disclosed above with reference to the fourth embodiment only for the fact that the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during the first of the two or more rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) of the washing- drying cycle is higher than the amount of clean rinse water added to the laundry during such one or more rinsing cycles of the standard rinsing phase dl) (as it was in the third embodiment), sill maintaining the number (for example four) of rinsing cycles of the rinsing phase d) of the washing-drying cycle higher than the number of rinsing cycles (for example three) of the standard rinsing phase dl) of the standard washing cycle, as it was in the fourth embodiment disclosed above.
• the fifth embodiment is a combination of the third and of the fourth embodiment; in fact, the features related to the amount of clean rinse water added and to the number of rinsing cycles, singularly present respectively in the third and in the four embodiments, are contemporaneously present in the fifth embodiment.
• laundry washing-drying machine illustrated in the enclosed figures, and with reference to which some embodiments according to the invention have been described is of the front-loading type; however it is clear that the invention can be applied as well to a top-loading washing machine, substantially without any modification.
• laundry washing-drying machine illustrated in the enclosed figures, and with reference to which some embodiments according to the invention have been described present a recirculation circuit 30 and/or a heater device 10; however it is clear that the invention can be applied as well to laundry washing machines that are free of such a recirculation circuit 30 and/or a heater device 10, substantially without any modification.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-11-13 PL PL14193107.1T patent/PL3020858T3/pl unknown
  • 2014-11-13 EP EP14193107.1A patent/EP3020858B1/de active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-11-10 WO PCT/EP2015/076250 patent/WO2016075162A1/en active Application Filing

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