WO2023025497A1

WO2023025497A1 - Method and apparatus for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning appliance, and cleaning appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2023025497A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/070926
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Last; Michael Presto; Ralf Bussmann; Gerlind Schiermeier; Patrick Schimke
Original assignee: Miele & Cie. Kg
Priority date: 2021-08-23
Filing date: 2022-07-26
Publication date: 2023-03-02
Also published as: BE1029707B1; BE1029707A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning appliance, the method comprising: a step of providing an additional heating signal (150) for activating an additional heater (106) during a heating process and a steam generation process, in order to heat the additional heater (106) to a temperature suitable for evaporating water; a step of providing a supply signal (154) to a supply device (109) during the steam generation process, the supply signal (154) causing water to be supplied to the additional heater (106) in order to generate steam; a step of providing a heat pump signal (152) in order to activate a heat pump (108) during a dry-cleaning process; and a step of providing a fan signal (156) in order to activate a fan (112) during the dry-cleaning process, in order to convey the steam into a treatment chamber or drum (102) to clean the item to be cleaned, and in order to convey the steam from the treatment chamber or drum (102) into an evaporator (110) of the heat pump (108) to clean the steam.

Description

Method and device for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device and cleaning device

The invention relates to a method and a device for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device and a cleaning device.

Some of the laundry is not visually dirty but is contaminated with odors and pollutants. As a rule, the laundry is therefore washed after a certain time or after a certain amount of stress and then dried in the dryer or on the line. Washing and subsequent drying requires a lot of time, energy and manual work on the part of the user.

The approach presented here sets itself the task of creating an improved method and an improved device for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device and an improved cleaning device.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method and a device for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device and by a cleaning device having the features of the main claims. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the following dependent claims.

The approach presented here creates the possibility of gently removing and transporting pollutants and additionally or alternatively odorous substances from the items to be cleaned, thereby also improving device hygiene, for example. Furthermore, the approach presented here creates a time-saving and low-energy option for cleaning the items to be cleaned.

A method for performing a cleaning process for a cleaning device is presented. The cleaning device has a treatment chamber or drum for receiving items to be cleaned, a heating device with a heat pump and an additional heater, and a fan for conveying process air through a circuit leading through the drum and the heating device. The method includes a step of providing an auxiliary heater signal for activating the auxiliary heater during a heating process and during a steam generation process subsequent to the heating process in order to heat the auxiliary heater to a temperature suitable for evaporating water. Furthermore, the method comprises a step of providing a feed signal to an interface to a feed device during the steam generation process, wherein the feed signal is a supply of water to the Auxiliary heating effected to generate steam. In a providing step, a heat pump signal for activating the heat pump is provided during an air washing process following the steam generation process. The method further comprises a step of providing a fan signal for activating the fan during the air washing process in order to convey the steam for cleaning the items to be cleaned into the treatment chamber or drum and for cleaning the steam from the drum into the evaporator of the heat pump.

The cleaning device can be designed, for example, as a dryer or washer-dryer or drying cabinet. In the following, the treatment chamber is also referred to as a drum, the drum being used when it is rotated during the treatment of the items to be cleaned in order to mix the items to be cleaned. In a drying cabinet, the treatment chamber is the treatment space into which the items to be cleaned are hung, whereby the treatment space is not moved during the treatment process. The items to be cleaned can be understood, for example, as textiles. The cleaning process can, for example, map a cleaning program that a user of the cleaning device can select and set accordingly. The cleaning process can be performed automatically using facilities of the cleaning device. The drum can be shaped as a rotatable receptacle. The additional heating can be an electrical heating device that can be activated independently of the heat pump and that, for example, comprises at least one heating resistor. The supply device can be designed, for example, as a controllable valve or as a pump, so that the amount of water to be supplied can be supplied to the auxiliary heater in a controlled manner.

According to one embodiment, the method can include a step of providing the heat pump signal for activating the heat pump during the heating process in order to be able to heat the process air. The heat pump signal can thus be provided in different sub-processes of the cleaning process in order to activate the heat pump. Optionally, the heat pump signal can also contain a target temperature value that can be used to regulate a heating output of the heat pump. If both the heat pump and the additional heater are active during the heating process, the process can be heated up very quickly.

According to one embodiment, the heat pump signal can be provided in the providing step in order to heat the process air to at least 45°C.

Advantageously, the process air can be heated to 50 degrees. If the process air that has been heated to this extent is passed through the drum, this can lead to the separation of odorous and pollutants via thermal desorption. According to one embodiment, in the step of providing, the supply signal can be provided during the steam generation process to an interface to the supply device designed as a pump, in order to pump the water to the additional heater to act on the additional heater. Advantageously, the water can be drawn from a reservoir using the pump and evaporated using the auxiliary heater.

For example, the feed signal can be provided to cause intermittent pumping of the water during the steam generation process. Advantageously, this can cause the water to evaporate evenly.

The method can include a step of providing the supply signal during a post-heating process that takes place after the air washing process and a step of providing the fan signal for activating the fan during the post-heating process in order to heat the items to be cleaned. Residual moisture in the items to be cleaned caused by the water vapor can advantageously be removed by the post-heating process.

Furthermore, the method can include a step of providing a scent signal for activating an introduction device for introducing a scent into the process air during the post-heating process. The introduction device can be implemented, for example, as an atomizer or as a conveying device for conveying the fragrance to the auxiliary heater. Alternatively, the evaporation of perfume from an open system can be promoted by an additional increase in the process air temperature. Advantageously, the use of the fragrance can give the user a feeling of freshness in the items to be cleaned.

According to one embodiment, the method can include a step of providing the fan signal for activating the fan during a fan process preceding the heating process. This allows solids to be removed from the items to be cleaned using the process air. For example, the solids can be in the form of dust particles that can be detached from the items to be cleaned. The solids can be, for example, animal hair or dust.

According to one embodiment, the fan signal can be provided in order to specify a speed and/or a direction of rotation of the fan. The fan can thus be activated and controlled via the fan signal. For example, the speed in the fan process can be alternately increased and decreased. Advantageously, by changing the speed, an air flow of the process air can be changed in such a way that stuck solids are also loosened. According to one embodiment, the fan signal can specify a reverse direction of rotation of the fan compared to the fan process during the steam generation process. As a result, steam formation can be optimized during the steam generation process.

Furthermore, the method can include a step of providing a pump-down signal for activating a condensate pump during a pump-down process following the air scrubbing process, in order to be able to pump out particles filtered from the steam and condensed on the evaporator after cleaning the steam from the circuit.

Advantageously, the steam can condense on the evaporator, so that the corresponding particles, for example dirt particles, can be filtered out and then pumped out.

The approach presented here also creates a device that is designed to carry out, control or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding units. The object on which the invention is based can also be achieved quickly and efficiently by this embodiment variant of the invention in the form of a device. The device can be designed as a control device, for example.

The device can be designed to read in input signals and to determine and provide output signals using the input signals. An input signal can represent, for example, a sensor signal that can be read in via an input interface of the device. An output signal may represent a control signal or a data signal that may be provided at an output interface of the device. The device can be designed to determine the output signals using a processing specification implemented in hardware or software. For example, the device can include a logic circuit, an integrated circuit or a software module and can be implemented as a discrete component, for example, or can be comprised of a discrete component.

A computer program product or computer program with program code, which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory, is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or a device, then the program product or program can be used to carry out, implement and/or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described here. Furthermore, a cleaning device is presented which has a drum for receiving items to be cleaned and a heating device with an additional heater and a heat pump. The additional heater is designed to evaporate water during a steam generation process that follows the heating process. The heat pump is configured to purify the vapor using an evaporator of the heat pump during an air scrubbing process subsequent to the vapor generation process. The cleaning device also has a fan for conveying process air through a circuit leading through the drum and the heating device during the air washing process in order to clean the items to be cleaned, and for conveying the steam from the drum into the evaporator of the heat pump for cleaning the steam. In addition, the cleaning device has a device in a previously presented variant.

The cleaning device can be in the form of a household appliance, for example, but can also be used in connection with a commercial or professional device, for example a medical device such as a cleaning or disinfection device, a small sterilizer, a large-capacity disinfector or a container washing system. The items to be cleaned can therefore also be crockery or medical equipment, for example.

According to one embodiment, the evaporator of the heat pump can have a hydrophilic surface. Advantageously, the surface can be coated in order to be able to filter out the particles from the steam better. As a result, the process air can be cleaned very well.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device;

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a cleaning process according to an exemplary embodiment of a method for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device;

FIG. 5 shows a state diagram relating to a cleaning process of the cleaning device for a feed device according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6 shows a state diagram relating to a cleaning process of the cleaning device for a heat pump according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a state diagram relating to a cleaning process of the cleaning device for a fan according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows a state diagram relating to a cleaning process of the cleaning device for an additional heater according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 shows a state diagram relating to a cleaning process of the cleaning device for a condensate pump according to an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment. The cleaning device 100 offers, for example, a large number of programs that can be selected individually by a user. In particular, the cleaning device 100 offers at least one cleaning program that enables cleaning items to be cleaned using humidified process air. If the cleaning device 100 is designed as a washer-dryer, it offers, for example, at least one further cleaning program that enables cleaning of items to be cleaned using a washing liquor and a dryer program that enables drying of the items to be cleaned.

The cleaning device 100 has a drum 102 , for example a laundry drum, for receiving items to be cleaned and a heating device 104 . The heating device 104 includes an additional heater 106 and a heat pump 108. The additional heater is designed, for example, as a resistance heater and the heat pump 108 as a heat pump device known from washer-dryers. Process air can be tempered using the heating device 104 before it is introduced into the drum 102 .

According to this exemplary embodiment, the additional heater 106 is also designed to evaporate water. The water is fed to the auxiliary heater 106 using a feed device 109 of the cleaning device 100 . The resulting steam can be entrained by the process air and passed through the drum 102 . As a result, the items to be cleaned can be cleaned.

According to one embodiment, an evaporator 110 of the heat pump 108 is used to clean the vapor passed through the drum 102 along with the process air. For this purpose, the cleaning device 100 has a fan 112 for conveying the process air through a fan leading through the drum 102 and the heating device 104 circuit 114 on. For example, circuit 114 includes pipes and/or hoses that connect elements of heater 104 to each other and to drum 102 .

Furthermore, the cleaning device 100 has a device 116 which can also be referred to as a control unit and which is designed to control operation of the cleaning device 100 . In particular, the device 116 is designed to control or carry out a sequence of a cleaning process of the cleaning appliance 100, as is described in one of the following figures. For this purpose, the device 116 is designed to control at least the heating device 104 and the fan 112 using electrical signals. For example, device 116 is designed to operate auxiliary heater 106 using an auxiliary heating signal 150, operate heat pump 108 using a heat pump signal 152, operate supply device 109 using a supply signal 154, and operate fan 112 using a fan signal 156 to control.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the feed device 109 is implemented as a pump or alternatively as a controllable valve. Using the feeder 109, the water may be drawn from a liquid tank 118 and conveyed to the auxiliary heater 106 by pumping or by gravity. The liquid container 118 is used to store the water to be evaporated.

Only optionally does the cleaning appliance 100 have an introduction device 119 which is designed to bring about introduction of a fragrance into the process air, controlled by a fragrance signal 158 provided by the device 116 .

According to one exemplary embodiment, liquid condensed on the evaporator 110 , which may include particles 122 to be removed from the circuit 114 , is separated from the circuit 114 into a collection container 124 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the cleaning device 100 also has a condensate pump 120 . The condensate pump 120 is designed to pump water out of the collection container 124 in a manner controlled by a pump-out signal 160 provided by the device 116 . When the water in the collecting tank 124 has been cleaned of the particles 122 , the water can be pumped into the liquid tank 118 using the condensate pump 120 . For example, the condensate pump 120 is arranged in the area of the collection container 124 of the cleaning device 100 .

As explained in more detail below, the cleaning device 100 enables a cleaning program to be carried out within a dryer based on the heat pump 108, steam and the additional heater 106. This cleaning program, also referred to as a cleaning process, can be used, for example, if the items to be cleaned are optically is not dirty, but has, for example, odorous substances and/or pollutants, but complete washing is not possible, for example, for reasons of time.

Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a cleaning device 100. The cleaning device 100 shown here corresponds, for example, to the cleaning device 100 described in Figure 1. According to this embodiment, the circuit diagram is merely more detailed than in Figure 1. According to this embodiment, it is made clear that the heat pump 108 has its own heat pump circuit 200 through which, for example, a refrigerant circulates. Part of the heat pump 108 is the evaporator 110, a throttle 202, also referred to as a throttle element, optionally a filter 204, a condenser 206, a compressor unit 208, also referred to as a compressor, and optionally a desuperheater fan 210.

The evaporator 110 is designed to extract heat from an ambient air and thereby to evaporate the refrigerant within the heat pump circuit 200 . The condenser 206, on the other hand, is designed to liquefy the vaporized refrigerant, whereby heat is given off to the environment, so that the heat pump 108 can be used for cooling, for example, depending on the area of application, or, according to this exemplary embodiment, is used for heating the process air. According to this exemplary embodiment, heat pump 108 and circuit 114 routed through heat pump 108 have a plurality of temperature sensors 212, which are designed to be able to detect a temperature development and/or a temperature change within circuit 114 and/or within heat pump circuit 200. Thus, the temperature gauges 212 enable the temperature of the process air to be measured upstream of the drum 102, downstream of the drum 102, and the temperature of the refrigerant downstream of the compressor unit 208. According to this exemplary embodiment, the circuit 114 runs through the evaporator 110 and the compressor 206 of the heat pump 108.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the cleaning appliance 100 has a drive 215 connected between the fan 112 and the drum 102, which is designed, for example, to set the drum 102 and/or the fan 112 in motion.

The cleaning device 100 optionally has a base module 214 . According to this exemplary embodiment, a plurality of collecting containers 124 are arranged within the floor module 214, which, for example, only optionally have different volumes. Only optionally is the floor module 214 connected or connectable to a sewer line. Furthermore, optionally, at least one of the collecting tanks 124 is coupled to the liquid tank 118, it being possible for liquid to be pumped from the collecting tank 124 into the liquid tank 118 using the condensate pump. The floor module 214 is, for example, on a base of the cleaning device 100 arranged or arrangeable. According to this exemplary embodiment, the base module 214 has a float switch 216 in this exemplary embodiment, which is designed to detect a maximum filling level of the collecting container 124 .

According to one exemplary embodiment, the additional heater 106 comprises a heating element, for example a PCT heating element, with a humidification unit for humidifying the process air.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method 300 according to an exemplary embodiment, the method 300 being suitable for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device. The method 300 can be carried out in a cleaning device, as has been described, for example, with reference to FIGS. The cleaning process can be used to clean items to be cleaned that are located within the cleaning device, in particular without using a washing liquor.

According to one embodiment, the cleaning process includes a heating process, a steam generation process and an air washing process and optionally a fan process, a pump-down process and a post-heating process. These sub-processes are described in detail below with reference to FIG. During the sub-processes, actuators of the cleaning device, in particular the fan, the additional heating, the feed device and the heat pump are operated. According to one exemplary embodiment, these actuators are actuated using control signals such as are described by way of example with reference to FIG. Provision of the control signals is controlled by the method 300 according to one embodiment.

The method 300 comprises a step 302 of providing an additional signal, a step 304 of providing a supply signal, a step 306 of providing a heat pump signal and a step 308 of providing a fan signal.

In step 302 of providing, an additional heating signal for activating the additional heating is provided during a heating process and during a steam generation process following the heating process in order to heat the additional heating to a temperature suitable for evaporating water.

In step 304 of providing, a supply signal is provided to an interface to a supply device during the steam generation process, the supply signal causing water to be supplied to the auxiliary heater in order to generate the steam. The steam is designed, for example, to release volatile organic compounds from the items to be cleaned. In step 306 of providing, a heat pump signal is provided for activating the heat pump during an air washing process subsequent to the steam generation process in order to use an evaporator of the heat pump for cleaning the steam.

In step 308 of providing, a fan signal is provided for activating the fan during the air washing process in order to send the steam for cleaning the items to be cleaned into the drum and to send the steam for cleaning the steam from the drum into the evaporator of the heat pump. For example, the process air is moved into the drum.

Step 308 of providing a fan signal is optionally also carried out to activate the fan during a fan process preceding the heating process in order to loosen solids from the items to be cleaned using the process air.

Optionally, according to an embodiment, the method 300 includes a step 312 of providing a pump-down signal for activating a condensate pump during a pump-down process following the air scrubbing process, in order to pump out particles filtered from the steam and condensed on the evaporator after cleaning the steam from the circuit, as well as optionally a step 314 of providing a fragrance signal for activating an introduction device for introducing a fragrance into the process air during a post-heating process that can be carried out after the air washing process.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the fan signal is provided in step 308 of providing, which specifies a speed or a direction of rotation of the fan.

Only optionally the heat pump is activated in the step 306 of providing the heat pump signal during the heating process in order to heat the process air to at least 45°C and preferably to 50°C.

The feed signal is also optionally made available during the steam generation process to an interface to the feed device designed as a pump in order to pump the water to the additional heater to act on the additional heater. According to one exemplary embodiment, the water is pumped to the auxiliary heater by being pumped at intervals. Optionally, the feed signal is provided during a post-heating process that follows the air washing process in a renewed providing step. The items to be cleaned are also heated up by activating the fan again during the post-heating process.

According to one exemplary embodiment, steps 302, 304, 306, 308, 312, 314 are carried out in such a sequence, optionally also repeatedly, that the Heat pump, in particular the compressor of the heat pump is off in the fan process, on in the heating process, off in the steam generation process, on in the air washing process, off in the pump-down process and off in the post-heating process. The fan, for example in the form of a process air blower, rotates at maximum in the fan process, at 90% in the heating process, at a minimum in the steam generation process, at maximum in the air washing process, at 70% in the pumping-out process and at 70% in the post-heating process. The auxiliary heater is on in the fan process, on in the heating process, on in the steam generation process, off in the air washing process, off in the pump down process, and on in the post-heating process. The feeder, also referred to as the steam generating pump, is off in the fan process, off in the heating process, on in the steam generating process, off in the air washing process, off in the pump down process, and off in the post-heating process.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a cleaning process 400 according to an exemplary embodiment of a method for carrying out a cleaning process 400 for a cleaning appliance. The steps of the method as described in FIG. 3 can therefore be carried out within the sub-processes described below.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the cleaning process 400 comprises a fan process 402, a heating process 404, a steam generation process 406, an air washing process 408, a pump-down process 410 and a post-heating process 412, in which the individual steps of the method are carried out. These sub-processes 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 are carried out one after the other.

After a preparation 414 for the cleaning process 400 by a user, the cleaning device is ready, for example, to carry out the cleaning process 400 . Such preparation 414 includes, for example, entering the items to be cleaned into the cleaning device and selecting a desired cleaning program, such as cleaning process 400 described in FIG.

In the fan process 402, the input cleaning stock is aerated using the process air in order to remove solids such as dust particles, crumbs or stones. For this purpose, the process air is conveyed through the drum of the cleaning device at, for example, a maximum speed that can be achieved by the fan. According to this exemplary embodiment, the heat pump and the feed device are deactivated in the fan process 402 . The solids are separated by ventilation with maximum volume flow.

In the heating process 404, the items to be cleaned are heated using the heat pump and/or the additional heater. The feeder is deactivated. The fan is according to activated in this exemplary embodiment, but it no longer runs at its maximum power, as before in the fan process 402, but at a slightly reduced power, for example at 90% of its power. The heating process 404 has the effect that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from the items to be cleaned. A separation of odorous substances and pollutants takes place via thermal desorption. For this purpose, the temperature of the items to be cleaned is increased to 50°C or more by means of a heat pump and additional heating. The higher this temperature, the faster the odorous substances are released from the items to be cleaned. The degree of soiling, the type of laundry and/or energy consumption is reacted to by adjusting the holding time and/or the temperature. For example, high temperatures allow a short treatment time, but high energy consumption is to be expected.

In the steam generation process 406, steam is then generated using the additional heating in order, for example, to bind the VOCs released from the items to be cleaned. The heat pump is deactivated and the fan is reduced to a minimum output. The feeder is activated in the steam generation process 406 and delivers the water to the auxiliary heater. In the steam generation process 406, the steam is generated in order to use a principle of steam distillation to remove non-volatile substances from the items to be cleaned and to improve the condensation in the evaporator of the heat pump. The steam is generated by water, such as condensate or distilled water, being conveyed to the additional heater and evaporating there. The steam is moved onto the laundry by means of the process air fan.

In the air scrubbing process 408, the vapor is condensed using the heat pump and the VOCs are thus removed from the process air. According to this exemplary embodiment, the fan in the air washing process 408 is activated at maximum power. The additional heating and the feeding device are deactivated during this time. In other words, the gaseous substances are cleaned from the process air in the air washing process 408 . This happens in an air washer, for example the evaporator of the heat pump unit. The substances are separated from the process air by condensation and absorption of the gaseous substances on a fin of the evaporator or on the water droplets adhering to the evaporator. A hydrophilic coating of the evaporator, for example, enables improved wetting and thereby improves absorption. By lowering the fan speed, the flow speed of the process air is reduced and the contact time of the process air to the air washer is extended. A regulated throttle, for example an expansion valve, can also be used to further reduce the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in order to improve condensation. In the pump down process 410, the condensed vapor is pumped out and the VOCs bound therein are removed. The heat pump, the additional heating and the feed device are deactivated. For example, the fan is activated with a power of 70%. The pump-out process 410 thus enables the contaminants to be removed from the cleaning device. The substances are transported to the condensate pump with the resulting condensate and conveyed out of the device with it. This takes place, for example, directly in the waste water line or alternatively in the collecting tank, also referred to as a condensate tank, which is emptied after the cleaning process 400 and only optionally rinsed.

The pumping process 410 is only to be regarded as an optional final sub-process. Alternatively, the pump-out process 410 is followed by the post-heating process 412. This means that, according to this exemplary embodiment, the user is free to decide whether an end of the pump-out process 410 means a removal 416 of the items to be cleaned or whether the only optional post-heating process 412 follows, in which the items to be cleaned is heated and/or scented again before removal 416 of the items to be cleaned. The heat pump and the feed device are deactivated. However, the additional heating is activated and the fan is also active with a reduced output of, for example, 70%. In other words, the air washer unit is switched off and only the additional heating is activated in order to evaporate the fragrances from a bottle, for example.

In other words, the cleaning process 400 achieves solid and odor removal without washing in a heat pump dryer with auxiliary heating (QPD) and steam generation.

A control of actuators that are involved in the cleaning process 400 is described below with reference to FIGS. The sub-processes 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 of the cleaning process 400 and state diagrams 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 are shown, the operating states of the respective actuator during the individual sub-processes 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 represent. The x-axis 504 of the state diagrams 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 symbolizes a time course and the y-axis 506 the operating state of the respective actuator.

Using a state diagram 500, FIG. 5 shows the operating state of the feed device described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 during the cleaning process 400 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Water is supplied to the auxiliary heater by means of the supply device in order to generate steam. According to this exemplary embodiment, the feed device is only activated during the steam generation process 406, here for example at intervals. In this way, according to one exemplary embodiment, the feed device, which is also referred to as a pump for generating steam, conveys water at intervals to a distribution device for loading the additional heater. The pump for the additional heating is activated only in the steam generation process, for example using the feed signal described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 uses a state diagram 500 to show the operating state of the heat pump described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 during the cleaning process 400 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the heat pump is therefore activated in the heating process 404 and additionally in the air washing process. In the fan process 402, in the steam generation process 406 and in the pumping-out process 410 and in the post-heating process 412, the heat pump according to this exemplary embodiment is deactivated.

The compressor of the heat pump is controlled, for example, to heat the process air down to a base temperature of 50°C. After a certain holding time, for example 20 minutes, the compressor is switched off during steam generation and distribution and restarted to activate the air washer.

FIG. 7 uses a state diagram 700 to show the operating state of the fan described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 during the cleaning process 400 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the fan is activated at all times of the cleaning process 400 . During the steam generation process 406, the fan according to this exemplary embodiment has a different direction of rotation than the other sub-processes 402, 404, 408, 410, 412.

In other words, at the beginning of the ventilation phase, ie the fan process 402, the motor of the fan is operated several times alternately at a maximum speed. In the heating phase of the heating process 404, the fan is constantly operated with the heating that is optimal for the heat pump. During the steam generation in the steam generation process 406, the air volume flow of the process air is set to a minimum. This is done, for example, by turning in the opposite direction at the minimum speed. During the air washing in the air washing process 408, the air is operated at the optimum speed for the heat pump. Optionally, the speed is lowered to improve the effect of the air washer. In the pump down phase in the pump down process 410, the fan is operated at minimum speed. In the optional post-heating process 412, the Air volume flow increased again to achieve good heating with the heat pump.

For example, the fan signal described with reference to FIG. 1 for controlling the motor of the fan is operated in the preferred direction during sub-processes 402, 404, 408, 410, 412 and in the opposite direction during sub-process 406.

FIG. 8 uses a state diagram 800 to show the operating state of the additional heater described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 during the cleaning process 400 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to this exemplary embodiment, it is made clear that the additional heating is only deactivated during the air washing process 408 and during the pumping-out process 410 . During the sub-processes 402, 404, 406 and during the post-heating process 412, the additional heating is activated.

In other words, the additional heating is activated as continuously as possible during the sub-processes 402, 404, 406. In order to achieve high temperatures on the additional heater, the air volume flow is minimized. The additional heater advantageously has a PTC base. This means that the power can be independently reduced at high temperatures.

FIG. 9 uses a state diagram 900 to show the operating state of the condensate pump described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 during the cleaning process according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, the condensate pump is permanently controlled with a fixed cycle and thus acts during the entire cleaning process. In other words, the condensate pump is alternately activated and deactivated. A fixed cycle is used, which prevents a float switch from being triggered.

Claims

patent claims

1. Method (300) for carrying out a cleaning process (400) for a cleaning device (100), which has a treatment chamber, preferably a drum (102), for receiving items to be cleaned, a heating device (104) with a heat pump (108) and an additional heater (106) and a fan (112) for conveying process air through a circuit (114) leading through the drum (102) and the heating device (104), the method (300) comprising the following steps:

Providing (302) an additional heating signal (150) to activate the additional heating (106) during a heating process (404) and during a steam generation process (406) following the heating process (404) in order to set the additional heating (106) to a suitable level for evaporating water temperature to heat;

providing (304) a feed signal (154) to an interface to a feed device (109) during the steam generation process (406), the feed signal (154) causing water to be fed to the auxiliary heater (106) to generate steam;

providing (306) a heat pump signal (152) to activate the heat pump (108) during an air scrubbing process (408) following the steam generation process (406); and

Providing (308) a fan signal (156) to activate the fan (112) during the air washing process (408) in order to convey the steam for cleaning the items to be cleaned into the drum (102) and for cleaning the steam from the treatment chamber (102) in to convey the evaporator (110) of the heat pump (108).

2. The method (300) according to claim 1, wherein the step (306) of providing the heat pump signal (152) for activating the heat pump (108) during the heating process (404) is performed to heat the process air.

3. The method (300) according to claim 2, wherein in the step (306) of providing the heat pump signal (152), the heat pump signal (152) is provided during the heating process (404) to heat the process air to at least 45°C.

4. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (304) of providing the feed signal (152), the feed signal (152) during the steam generation process (406) to an interface to the feed device (109) designed as a pump is to pump the water for charging the auxiliary heater (106) to the auxiliary heater (106).

The method (300) of claim 4, wherein the supply signal (154) is provided that causes the water to be pumped intermittently during the steam generation process (406).

6. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the step (154) of providing the supply signal (154) is carried out during a post-heating process (412) taking place after the air washing process (408), and the step (308) of providing the fan signal (156) for activating the fan (112) during the post-heating process (412) is carried out in order to heat the items to be cleaned.

7. The method (300) according to claim 6, with a step (314) of providing a scent signal (158) for activating an introduction device (119) for introducing a scent into the process air during the post-heating process (412).

8. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the step (308) of providing the fan signal (156) for activating the fan (312) is performed during a fan process (402) preceding the heating process (404) in order to remove solids removed from the items to be cleaned using the process air.

9. The method (300) according to claim 8, wherein the fan signal (156) is provided, which specifies a speed or a direction of rotation of the fan (112).

10. The method (300) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the fan signal (156) during the steam generation process (406) specifies a opposite direction of rotation of the fan (112) compared to the fan process (402).

11. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, with a step (312) of providing a pump-out signal (160) for activating a condensate pump (120) during a pump-out process (410) following the air washing process (408) to after cleaning pump out particles (122) filtered from the vapor and condensed on the evaporator (110) from the circuit (114). 18

12. Device (116), which is designed to carry out and/or control the steps (302, 304, 306, 308, 312, 314) of the method (300) according to one of the preceding claims in corresponding units.

13. Cleaning device (100) with the following features: a treatment chamber, preferably a drum (102), for receiving items to be cleaned; a heating device (104) with an additional heater (106) and a heat pump (108); a fan (112) for conveying process air through a circuit (114) leading through the treatment chamber (102) and the heating device (104); and an apparatus (116) according to claim 12.

14. Cleaning device (100) according to claim 13, wherein an evaporator (110) of the heat pump (108) has a hydrophilic surface.