WO2016135599A1

WO2016135599A1 - A laundry dryer with a drying air filter

Info

Publication number: WO2016135599A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050895
Authority: WO
Inventors: Miran Razborsek; Borut KERZIC; Matevz SMUC; Matej GOLAVSEK
Original assignee: Gorenje Gospodinjski Aparati, D.D.
Priority date: 2015-02-25
Filing date: 2016-02-19
Publication date: 2016-09-01
Also published as: DE112016000464T5; SE1751064A1; SI24927A; SE542702C2; RU2664371C1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a laundry dryer comprising a drum with an aperture for feeding laundry to be dried, at least partially transparent or translucent door that closes said aperture for feeding laundry to be dried, a heating means for warming up drying air, a cooling means for eliminating moisture from drying air, a transporting means for circulating drying air in the laundry dryer, and a filter unit for drying air conveyed from said drum. It is provided for according to the present invention that at the side of a door (4) facing a drum (2) in the area under a bell shaped bulge (4') of a door (4) glass there is arranged a first filter unit (14) which is swivel-mounted by means of a hinge (18) in said door (4) and fixed by means of at least one locking means (25) which cooperates in a snap-in manner with a counter-locking means (26) in the door (4), a removable filter insert (17) being located in the body (16) and provided with a cover (29).

Description

A LAUNDRY DRYER WITH A DRYING AIR FILTER

The present invention refers to a laundry dryer comprising a drum with an aperture for feeding laundry to be dried, at least partially transparent or translucent door that closes said aperture for feeding laundry to be dried, a heating means for warming up drying air, a cooling means for eliminating moisture from drying air, a transporting means for circulating drying air in the laundry dryer, and a filter unit for drying air conveyed from said drum.

A laundry dryer of the aforementioned kind is known that comprises at least partially transparent or translucent a door, in particular a glass door, which enables view into the drum also during the drying cycle. Filtering of drying air is provided by means of a bag-like mesh filter arranged in the area of the aperture for feeding the laundry, in particular in the area below the door in an air channel extending under the door. The mesh filter can also be placed at the entrance into said air channel and, respectively, in the area under the glass. In front of the entrance of air into a condenser and, respectively, into an evaporator if the laundry dryer comprises a heat pump, said mesh filter is usually followed by an additional mesh filter and/or foam filter. Such an embodiment is required in particular due to fine particles which are not filtered entirely by the usual mesh filter under the door glass and would accumulate on the surfaces of heat exchangers.

A drawback of the known solutions reflects in that the arrangement of the bag-like filter in the lower portion of the aperture for feeding the laundry reduces flow through the air channel. In many cases, the bag-like filter is to be folded open and unsnapped, which is rather unfriendly manipulation. In some cases, said bag-like filter is a double filter i.e. a filter within another filter. In such an instance two elements must be disassembled in order for the filter to be cleaned up, washed and returned into the place. According to the instructions of manufacturers the cleaning of the filter/filters is to be carried out after every drying cycle, thus, resulting in wear out of the snapping means and even in rupture of the mesh filter which is often the case due to ageing of the material.

The bag-like filter must be formed in a manner that the entrance aperture thereof is located in the area under the door glass. Therefore, the aperture for feeding the laundry into the drum is reduced, representing user-unfriendly solution. Furthermore, said mesh filter is usually arranged in the lower portion of the aperture for feeding the laundry, resulting in an addition reduction of the aperture for feeding the laundry.

It is the object of the present invention to create a laundry dryer with a drying air filter by means of which there is provided sufficient air filtering with dryer having at least partially transparent or translucent door, and, simultaneously, the size of the aperture for feeding the laundry is not reduced.

According to the present invention there is provided an embodiment of a laundry dryer comprising at least partially transparent or translucent door, made of glass for example, and a filter unit arranged in the door assembly in a depression of the glass. In this way it is achieved that the upper part of the filter unit, a filter insert with a cover that is, is also visible with the close door of the dryer. It is provided for according to the invention that said cover of the filter unit is formed as an aesthetic element onto which various graphic add-ons can be applied that are visible through the glass. Said graphic add-ons can be for instance selected as marketing signs, user manuals and similar. Furthermore, said cover of the filter insert is at least partially coated with a coat with or is at least partially made of material that changes its colour in dependence of temperature and/or humidity of drying air. Therewith, it is enabled during the drying cycle to communicate the user information such as the drying air temperature, remaining air humidity, remaining drying time and similar.

Furthermore, it is provided for according to the present invention that said cover of the filter insert may serve as a handle for aperture the filter unit. The filter insert according to the invention can be removed by a single pull which simultaneously opens the filter unit and pulls the filter unit out of the support thereof. The body of the filter unit can be assembled of two or more parts such as of a body and a perforated wall, for example. Thus, it is enabled to adapt a perforation pattern to different trademarks and embodiments of the dryer.

The invention is further described in detail by way of non-limiting embodiment, and with a reference to the accompanying drawings, where

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a condenser laundry dryer with a drying air filter;

Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a door of a dryer of Fig. 1 with an inclined filter unit;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a door of a dryer of Fig. 2 with a filter unit in place; Fig. 4 shows a side view of a door of a dryer of Fig. 2 with a filter unit swung out; Fig. 5 shows a an exploded three-dimensional view of a filter unit.

A laundry dryer with a drying air filter according to the invention is described in the continuation based on the embodiment of a condenser laundry dryer with a heat pump and comprising a glass door or a door having glass, although the invention is not limited to the laundry dryer of said kind; namely, the invention can be used also with all other sorts and types of laundry driers.

The laundry dryer according to the invention comprises a body 1 in which a rotatable drum 2 is embedded with a feeding aperture 3 to accommodate laundry articles to be dried. Said feeding aperture 3 can be closed by means of a door such as a door 4 made of glass or equipped with glass. In the present embodiment, a heat pump 5 comprising an evaporator 6 and a condenser 7 is arranged in the area below said drum 2. Hot and humid airflow is conveyed via a channel 8 into said evaporator 6 where it is dried and cooled. Water which condensed from the hot and humid air in said evaporator 6 of the heat pump 5 is collected in a condensate receptacle 9 arranged in the area under said heat pump 5. A pumping means 10 is arranged in said condensate receptacle 9 which forces the condensate via a line 11 into a container 12 arranged in the area above said drum 2. Dry and cool airflow flowing out of said evaporator 6 is conveyed further through said condenser 7 where it is warmed up. The warmed airflow is sucked from the condenser 7 by means of a transporting means 13 and is lead onwards into said drum 2.

The warmed-up airflow warms wet laundry, and the moisture starts to evaporate. The hot and humid air travels through a first filter unit 14 where rough particles are filtered out, said first filter unit 14 being arranged in the door 4 area and directly above said channel 8, so that the air from the drum 2 flows through the first filter unit 14 into the channel 8 and further toward the evaporator 6. A second filter unit 15 is arranged at the entrance into said evaporator 6 which additionally filters out fine particles.

Hereinafter the words below/above and derivatives thereof are reasonably used for a specific position with regard to a typical and regular position in height of the laundry dryer. According to the present invention, said first filter unit 14 is arranged on said circular glass door 4 and, respectively, on door equipped with glass, preferably in the area of the lower portion of the door 4 and at the side thereof facing the drum 2 and, respectively, facing the interior of the laundry dryer. The filer unit 14 preferably resembles an approximate shape of a circular segment and is oriented in a manner, that the chord of said segment is approximately in parallel with a horizontal centreline of the door 4, whereas the arc of said segment fits into said aperture 3 for feeding the laundry. Since the glazing and, respectively, the glass door 4 is usually formed with an approximately bell shaped bulge 4' in direction towards the drum 2 and, respectively, towards the interior of the laundry dryer, said bulge 4' is formed in the lower portion thereof with a suitable offset 4" to receive the first filter unit 14. According to the invention, said offset 4" is formed with such a dimension that the first filter unit 14 does not protrude beyond the edge of the offset 4" when observing in the axial direction of the drum 2. Thereby, it is prevented unwanted jamming of the laundry into the first filter unit 14. According to the present invention, an embodiment of said bell shaped bulge 4' is possible which is formed in the sense of a circular segment arranged above the horizontal centreline of the door 4, whereas said first filter unit 14 is attached to the door 4 in the area below said bulge 4'.

Said first filter unit 14 has a body 16 to receive a filter insert 17 and comprises a front wall 19, a back wall 20 spaced from said front wall, and an arched wall 21 connecting the walls 19, 20 in the lower portion thereof. Said body 16 is fastened in a swivelling manner on said door 4 by means of a hinge 18. The connection of the body 16 and the hinge 18 is preferably a detachable connection in particular a manually detachable connection without any need to use additional tool. Said hinge 18 enables for the body 16 to be at least partially swivelled in direction away from the door 4. At least the wall 19 facing the drum 2 and, respectively, the interior of the laundry dryer is formed with a plurality of openings 22 in order to allow free flow of the drying air. Said openings 22 may be placed randomly, or may be arranged in a manner to form a particular pattern such as a logo or similar. The body 16 of the first filter unit 14 can be produced as a single piece, however, it is possible for said wall 19 to be produced separately and afterwards connected to the body 16 such as by means of gluing, welding, by means of pins, snaps and similar. In addition, said wall 19 is formed in the area of the upper edge thereof with an offset 23 extending in the direction away from the drum 2 and, respectively, away from the interior of the laundry dryer. Moreover, it is provided for according to the present invention that a wall 21 is formed at the lower arched end of the body 16, said wall 21 faces said channel 8 for supplying drying air into the evaporator 6 and cooperates with said channel 8 and is formed with at least one aperture 24 configured to allow the drying air to pass into said channel 8. In order to fix the first filter unit 14 in the door, said back wall 20 of the body 16 is formed with at least one locking means 25 which cooperates in a snap-in manner with a counter-locking means 26 in the door 4. Optionally, said locking means 25 can be arranged on said filter insert 17 instead. The filter insert 17 which is removably arranged in said body 16 of the first filter unit 14 comprises a structure 27 the shape thereof matches the shape of the body 16. The sides of the insert 17 facing said walls 20, 21 of the body 16 are provided with a filtering means 28 such as a fine mesh, for example, attached to said structure 27. When installed, the end of the insert 17 facing the wall 21 of the body 16 is forced in an air-tight manner against said wall 21, thus, enabling the drying air to flow through filtering means 28 of the insert 17 and the aperture 24 in the wall 21 only. Furthermore, the side of the insert 17 facing the wall 20 of the body 16 is arranged spaced from the wall 20 and, respectively, is inclined in direction away from the wall 20. The upper portion of the filter insert 17 is provided with a cover 29 which is connected to said structure 27 by means of gluing, welding, by means of pins, snaps and similar. Optionally, said cover 29 can be used a s a handle for manipulating the insert 17, because a suitable handling depression is formed in the location between said offset 23 of the wall 19 and the cover 29. Optionally, the upper surface of the cover 19 averted from the body 16 of the first filter unit 14 is at least partially provided with a coating or is at least partially made of material which changes its colour in dependence on temperature and/or humidity of the drying air. Therewith, it is enabled during the drying cycle to communicate the user information such as the drying air temperature, remaining air humidity, remaining drying time and similar.

Claims

1. A laundry dryer comprising a drum with an aperture for feeding laundry to be dried, at least partially transparent or translucent door that closes said aperture for feeding laundry to be dried, a heating means for warming up drying air, a cooling means for eliminating moisture from drying air, a transporting means for circulating drying air in the laundry dryer, and a filter unit for drying air conveyed from said drum, characterized in that at the side of a door (4) facing a drum (2) in the area under a bell shaped bulge (4') of at least partially transparent or translucent door (4) there is arranged a first filter unit (14) which is swivel-mounted by means of a hinge (18) in said door (4) and fixed by means of at least one locking means (25) which cooperates in a snap-in manner with a counter-locking means (26) in the door (4), a removable filter insert (17) being located in the body (16) and provided with a cover (29).

2. The laundry dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (16) for accommodating the filter insert (17) comprises a front wall (19), a back wall (20) spaced from said front wall, and an arched wall (21) connecting the walls (19, 20) in the lower portion thereof, where at least the front wall (19) facing the drum (2) and, respectively, the interior of the laundry dryer is formed with a plurality of openings (22) in order to allow free flow of the drying air.

3. The laundry dryer according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said openings (22) are arranged randomly.

4. The laundry dryer according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said openings (22) are arranged in a manner to form a pattern such as a logo or similar.

5. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wall (19) is produced separately and afterwards connected to the body (16) such as by means of gluing, welding, by means of pins, snaps and similar.

6. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wall (19) is formed in the area of the upper edge thereof with an offset (23) extending in the direction away from the drum (2) and, respectively, away from the interior of the laundry dryer.

7. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wall (21) formed at the lower arched end of the body (16) faces a channel (8) for supplying drying air into an evaporator (6), that said wall (21) cooperates with said channel (8), and that said wall (21) is formed with at least one aperture (24) configured to allow the drying air to pass into said channel (8).

8. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said back wall (20) of the body (16) is formed with at least one locking means (25) which cooperates in a snap-in manner with a counter-locking means (26) in the door (4).

9. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking means (25) is arranged on said filter insert (17).

10. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removable filter insert (17) comprises a structure (27) the shape thereof matches the shape of the body (16), where the sides of the insert (17) facing said walls (20, 21) of the body (16) are provided with a filtering means (28) attached to said structure (27).

11. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filtering means (28) is selected as a fine mesh.

12. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the insert (17) facing the wall (21) of the body (16), when installed, is forced in an airtight manner against said wall (21), thus, enabling the drying air to flow through filtering means (28) of the insert (17) and the aperture (24) in the wall (21) only.

13. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side of the insert (17) facing the back wall (20) of the body (16) is arranged spaced from the wall (20) and, respectively, is inclined in direction away from the wall (20).

14. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper portion of the filter insert (17) is provided with a cover (29) which is connected to said structure (27) by means of gluing, welding, by means of pins, snaps and similar.

15. The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (29) is configured as a handle for manipulation with the insert (17).

The laundry dryer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper surface of the cover (19) averted from the body (16) of the first filter unit (14) is at least partially provided with a coating or is at least partially made of material which changes its colour in dependence on temperature and/or humidity of the drying air.