WO2018121938A1

WO2018121938A1 - A washer-dryer utilizing the internal volume of its door

Info

Publication number: WO2018121938A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/080236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilkan Erdem; Canberk DEMIRCAN; Mutlu IPEK; Cagdas YALCIN; Gokce UGUR ERINC
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-12-27
Filing date: 2017-11-23
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: TR201619701A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer-dryer (1) comprising a body (2), a drum (3) in which the laundry is placed, a tub (4) in which the drum (3) moves, a loading opening (5) provided on the front face of the body (2), enabling the laundry to be loaded into and unloaded from the drum (3), and a door (6) covering the loading opening (5) made of transparent material enabling monitoring of the laundry, for example of glass or transparent plastic, having an outer window (7) covering its surface facing the outer side of the body (2), and an inner window (9) having a cambered structure extending from the loading opening (5) into the drum (3), forming a cavity (8) in between itself and the outer window (7).

Description

A WASHER-DRYER UTILIZING THE INTERNAL VOLUME OF ITS DOOR

The present invention relates to a washer-dryer utilizing the internal volume of the laundry loading door.

In washer-dryers, washing is performed with the purpose of general cleaning of the laundry. Although there might be special stain removal functions or cycles, certain tough stains cannot be cleaned during general washing. Some detergent producers present to users pre-treatment chemicals such as bleach, special stain removers, etc. for cleaning of tough stains. Stain removing chemical materials are applied with water or directly to the stained region of the laundry, and are left there for a certain period of time. The process of leaving laundry in water and/or chemical materials is known as “steeping”. Thus, a pre-treatment is applied for softening or completely removing the stain before washing. The stains softened and not completely removed through pre-treatment are completely cleaned after washing in the washer-dryer. A suitable environment is required for the user to apply said pre-treatment to the laundry separate from the washer-dryer. The stained laundries are usually soaked and steeped after adding chemical material in a container such as a washbowl, bucket, etc. before washing, and this arises a difficulty for the user particularly in limited spaces.

European patent no. EP2415920 (B1) relates to a washing machine in which laundry is loaded into the space inside the door.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a washer-dryer utilizing the volume in the laundry loading door for the steeping process in water and stain removing chemicals applied to the laundry.

The washer-dryer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention comprises a door covering the loading opening enabling loading and unloading of the laundry, an outer window, and an inner window of cambered structure extending from the loading opening into the drum. The cavity between the outer window and the inner window is utilized for steeping process in water and stain removing chemicals, defined as pre-treatment applied to the laundry.

The inner window of the door is joined to the outer window by means of a hinge provided on its lower side, so as to be opened in a top-down manner by rotating about the horizontal axis. The inner window thus acts as a receptacle enabling the laundry to be steeped in water and /or stain removing chemical materials, in the inclined position it is brought to by being partially opened.

The washer-dryer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a washer-dryer.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the washer-dryer door of the invention with the inner window closed.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the washer-dryer door of the invention with the inner window opened.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Washer-dryer
Body
Drum
Tub
Loading opening
Door
Outer window
Cavity
Inner window
Hinge
Stopper
Lock
Sealing gasket

The washer-dryer (1) comprises a body (2), a drum (3) in which the laundry is placed, a tub (4) in which the drum (3) moves, a loading opening (5) provided on the front face of the body (2), enabling the laundry to be loaded into and unloaded from the drum (3), and a door (6) covering the loading opening (5), made of a transparent material enabling the laundry to be monitored, for example of glass or transparent plastic. The door (6) comprises an outer window (7) covering its surface facing the outer side of the body (2), and an inner window (9) having a cambered structure extending from the loading opening (5) into the drum (3), forming a cavity (8) in between itself and the outer window (7).

The washer-dryer (1) of the invention comprises an inner window (9) joined to the outer window (7) by means of a hinge (10) provided on its lower side, so as to be opened in a top-down manner by rotating about the horizontal axis, and acting as a receptacle enabling steeping of the laundry in water and/or stain removing chemical materials, in the inclined position it is brought to by being partially opened.

In the washer-dryer (1) of the invention, the outer window (7) is fixed to the door (6) frame. The inner window (9) is joined to the outer window (7) by means of a hinge (10) so as to be opened and closed in a top-down manner. The inner window (9) has a cambered structure extending from the loading opening (5) into the drum (3) similar to known applications, preventing the laundry from getting stuck in the region of the bellows connected to the tub (4). The cavity (8) surrounded by the inner window (9) forms a steeping volume for steeping the laundry in water and/or stain removing chemical materials. Said cavity (8), in the inclined position the inner window (9) is brought to, acts as a receptacle in which laundry is placed and water and chemical materials can be introduced, utilizing the dead space in the door (6). For the steeping, the user partially opens the inner window (9) behind the door (6), places the laundry into the cavity (8) between the outer window (7) and the inner window (9), and introduces water and/or the chemicals. The user than closes the inner window (9) and steeps the laundry in the door (6). The user opens the inner window (9) and takes the laundry within after a time determined by the user. The steeping region formed in the door (6) is independent from the washing process in the washer-dryer. The washer-dryer (1) can be operated by closing the door (6) while the laundry is left in the door (6) for steeping. After the door (6) is used for the steeping process, the inner window (9) is kept open, and the inner surfaces of the inner window (9) and the outer window (7) which contacted chemicals are cleaned while the tub (4) cleaning program is applied in the washer-dryer (1).

In an embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer (1) comprises a stopper (11) provided on the door (6), enabling the inner window (9) to be kept fixed at the inclined position it is brought to by being opened, and preventing it from falling downwards. The stopper (11) keeps the inner window (9) fixed at a position inclined to the extent of an angle approximately between 40º and 50º with respect to the vertical axis, for example at 45º, and the volume formed by the cambered portion on the lower side of the inner window (9) formed for steeping is utilized to the maximum extent.

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer (1) comprises a lock (12) enabling the inner window (9) to be kept fixed at the position in which it is closed on the outer window (7) while the laundry is left in the door (6) and/or the washer-dryer (1) is operating.

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer (1) comprises a sealing gasket (13) provided between the inner window (9) and the outer window (7), extending all around along the edges of the inner window (9) and the outer window (7) contacting each other in the position in which the inner window (9) is closed on the outer window (7).

The sealing gasket (13) prevents the water and/or the chemicals from leaking outside during steeping, and the washing water from leaking into the door (6) during washing in the washer-dryer (1).

The user is provided with a convenience by the pre-treatment, steeping applied to the stained laundry in the washer-dryer (1) of the invention. The steeped laundries are easily loaded by the user to the drum (3) of the washer-dryer (1) for main washing.

Claims

A washer-dryer (1) comprising a body (2), a drum (3) in which the laundry is placed, a tub (4) in which the drum (3) moves, a loading opening (5) provided on the front face of the body (2), enabling the laundry to be loaded into and unloaded from the drum (3), and a door (6) covering the loading opening (5), made of transparent material enabling monitoring of the laundry, having an outer window (7) covering its surface facing the outer side of the body (2), and an inner window (9) having a cambered structure extending from the loading opening (5) into the drum (3), forming a cavity (8) in between itself and the outer window (7),

- characterized by the inner window (9) joined to the outer window (7) by means of a hinge (10) provided on its lower side, so as to be opened in a top-down manner by rotating about the horizontal axis and acting as a receptacle in the inclined position it is brought to by being partially opened.
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by a stopper (11) provided on the door (6), enabling the inner window (9) to be kept fixed at the inclined position it is brought to by being opened.
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the stopper (11) keeping the opened inner window (9) inclined to the extent of an angle approximately between 40º and 50º with respect to the vertical axis.
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a lock (12) enabling the inner window (9) to be kept fixed at the position in which it is closed on the outer window (7).
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a sealing gasket (13) provided between the inner window (9) and the outer window (7), extending all around along the edges of the inner window (9) and the outer window (7) contacting each other in the position in which the inner window (9) is closed on the outer window (7).