Method for rinsing fabric in a washer and washer adapted to carry out this method

Abstract

A method of rinsing fabric in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis comprises the step of adding water to the wash chamber and spraying the rinse water by recirculating it onto the fabric while spinning the wash chamber at a speed to effect a centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will not tumble within the wash chamber as it spins. The method further comprises at least a last rinsing step in which the rotating speed of the wash chamber is such that the fabric tumbles within the wash chamber and in that the rinsing water is not recirculated and sprayed onto the fabric.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a method of rinsing fabric in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis comprising the step of adding water to the wash chamber and spraying the rinse water by recirculating it onto the fabric while spinning the wash chamber at a speed to effect a centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will not tumble within the wash chamber as it spins.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The above method is known as “recirculation method” and was designed for reducing water and energy consumption of European domestic washers. One of the above methods is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,668.[0005]As a matter of fact water consumption of European domestic washers has continuously decreased over the last decades mainly due the cost of supply water, the energy cost for heating such water and to environmental issues. By introducing a recirculation rinse the water...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As a matter of fact water consumption of European domestic washers has continuously decreased over the last decades mainly due the cost of supply water, the energy cost for heating such water and to environmental issues.

On the other hand, beside the actual reduction of water consumption, consumers are increasingly complaining about laundry feeling soapy after wash, laundry crackling with foam residual after wash, spots of insoluble compounds (zeolites) on the laundry, and eczema from residual detergent on the fabric.

All the above negative effects are mainly due to a too high residual concentration of detergent in the rinsing water (including zeolites usually contained in detergent formulations), to laundry fluff, to chunky food particles, to sand and rust articles from plumbing.

Therefore recirculation is rarely implemented in modern washers mainly because of added cost of parts, difficulty to draw benefit from it because specific cycle layout is required to avoid drawback of soil / detergent redeposition on laundry and drawback of suds.

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