Method for identifying an item usable for caring for laundry in a laundry care machine and corresponding laundry care machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for identifying at least one item 5, 15 of laundry 5 which can be used in a laundry care machine 1 using an identifier 18, the identifier being provided in the laundry care machine 1, in which method the at least one item 5, 15 is connected to a writable transponder 17, the identifier 18 is stored in the transponder, the transponder 17 is connected to a first interface 19 to read out the identifier 18 before a process for caring for the laundry 5 is carried out, the first interface is connected to a control device 16 of the laundry care machine 1, the care for the laundry 5 is carried out in accordance with the identifier 18, wherein the transponder 17 is connected to the first interface 19 to write the identifier 18, the identifier 18 is written into the transponder 17 by means of the first interface 19. Here, the at least one item 5, 15 comprises laundry 5, the identifier 18 identifies the type of textile, the colour and / or a hint to a care process which is suitable or unsuitable for the laundry 5. The invention also relates to a correspondingly configured laundry care machine 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for identifying at least one item that can be used for the care of clothing in a garment care machine using an identifier provided in the garment care machine. In the method, the at least one item is connected to a writable transponder in which the identifier is stored, and the transponder is connected to a first interface for reading the identifier before performing a process for caring for the clothing. The first interface is connected to a control device of the garment care machine and the clothing is cared for according to the identifier. The transponder is connected to the first interface for writing the identifier, and the identifier is written into the transponder through the first interface.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a garment care machine for garment care, the garment care machine comprising a care chamber for receiving garments, an inlet assembly for allowing care solution to enter the care chamber, a device for caring for the garments with the care solution, an outlet assembly for discharging the care solution from the care chamber, and a control device for controlling the garment care machine, wherein the control device is configured to care for the garments according to an identifier, and the control device is connected to a first interface through which the control device can read the identifier from at least one writable transponder fastened to an article that can be used to care for the garments, wherein the control device and the first interface are configured to write the identifier into the writable transponder. Background Technology

[0003] Document EP 2 205786 B1 discloses methods and garment care machines belonging to the categories defined above. Here, the article that can be used for garment care is a transport or storage container for a care agent, which can be kept near the garment care machine, and the care agent can be metered from the transport or storage container and added to the garment care machine during the care process. The container is equipped with a writable transponder that stores experiential information gained by the garment care machine when applying the treatment agent and provides said experiential information for reading and consideration when the treatment agent is subsequently applied by the garment care machine.

[0004] Document US 2014 / 0157526 A1 discloses a washing system and a method for washing clothes, wherein the clothes are equipped with transponders, which are read by the washing machine when such clothes are put into the washing machine, such that the subsequent washing is performed based on the data read from the transponders.

[0005] Document DE 197 47 150 A1 discloses a method for caring for, in particular, washing and drying textile products, wherein these products are equipped with machine-readable transponders, each of which contains data about the corresponding product, and wherein the corresponding garment care machine is equipped with means for reading such data in order to select an appropriate care procedure based on the data.

[0006] Document WO 2008 / 128899 A1 discloses a washing machine having a device for quantitatively adding detergent active ingredients, the device being configured to read data identifying such detergent active ingredients from a data carrier connected to a storage container containing the detergent active ingredients and close to a corresponding reading device of the washing machine.

[0007] Known methods for caring for clothing that utilize automatically available data on the garment and any care products to be used presuppose the provision of such data. In particular, transponders can be mounted on the garment or the container containing the care product; these transponders contain relevant data that can be read by a corresponding reading device and used to select the appropriate care process, the reading device being connectable to the garment care machine. Here, related communication with the user providing the clothing for care may be possible, but may not be necessary.

[0008] Currently, garments are generally labeled with so-called care labels by their manufacturers. These labels contain pictographic symbols of standardized symbols that provide guidance on suitable care conditions and processes, including regular washing, regular drying, chemical dry cleaning, and ironing. Such care symbols were introduced in particular by the International Organization for Textile Care Labelling (GINETEX) and are described in standard ISO 3758. Current practice relies on the direct visual perception of these care symbols by the user. In part, in addition to such care symbols, care labels also include QR codes, but QR codes are not suitable for fully automated detection. There is currently a lack of widespread practice and standards regarding suitable, automatically retrievable information and devices for providing this information on garments and care products. Currently, users interested in the automated identification of their garments and care products still have to acquire suitable transponders with the corresponding data and connect them to the garment or care product themselves. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to assist in the automated identification of corresponding identifiers on items used in the garment care process, particularly garments, by means of a corresponding method and a garment care machine configured to perform the method.

[0010] To address this task, the present invention provides a method having the class characteristics listed at the beginning and in the preamble of the respective independent claims, which additionally has the characteristics of the characterizing portion of the independent claim.

[0011] To address this task, a corresponding garment care machine is also provided according to the present invention, having the class features listed at the beginning and in the preamble of the respective independent claims, and additionally having the features of the characterizing portion of the independent claims.

[0012] Preferred configurations of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and in the following description, and may also be applied in combinations thereof, provided that technical considerations permit, even if not expressly stated herein. Preferred configurations of the method according to the invention correspond to preferred configurations of the garment care machine according to the invention, and vice versa, even if not expressly stated herein.

[0013] To address this task, the present invention provides a method for identifying at least one item suitable for caring for clothing in a garment care machine using an identifier provided in the garment care machine. In this method, the at least one item is connected to a writable transponder, the identifier is stored in the transponder, and the transponder is connected to a first interface to read the identifier before performing a process for caring for the clothing. The first interface is connected to a control device of the garment care machine, and the clothing is cared for according to the identifier. The transponder is also connected to the first interface to write the identifier, and the identifier is written into the transponder through the first interface. In this method, the at least one item includes clothing, and the identifier identifies the type of textile, color, and / or indicates whether the care process is suitable or unsuitable for caring for the clothing.

[0014] To address this task, a garment care machine for caring for clothing is also provided according to the present invention, comprising a care chamber for receiving clothing, an inlet assembly for introducing care solution into the care chamber, a device for caring for clothing with the care solution, an outlet assembly for discharging the care solution from the care chamber, and a control device for controlling the garment care machine, wherein the control device is configured to care for clothing based on an identifier, and the control device is connected to a first interface, the control device being able to read the identifier from at least one writable transponder fastened to an article suitable for caring for clothing via the first interface, wherein the control device and the first interface are configured to write the identifier into the writable transponder, wherein the at least one article in the garment care machine includes clothing, and wherein the control device is configured to read and write the identifier, which identifies the type of textile, color, and / or indication of whether the care process is suitable or unsuitable for caring for the clothing.

[0015] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to utilize the garment care machine itself so that the transponder on the garment care item is provided with identifiers that can be read in a fully automated manner during the subsequent care process, so that the care process can be selected and performed based on the identifiers.

[0016] One advantage of this invention is that it eliminates the need for manufacturers of clothing or care products to provide corresponding automatically readable identifiers. Instead, commercially available, universally writable transponders can be used, which are connected to the clothing or containers for care products (if necessary after purchase by the user) and affixed with the corresponding identifiers using a suitable garment care machine. Therefore, this invention enables the use of automatically readable identifiers in garment care with minimal and cost-effective overhead.

[0017] Another advantage of this invention is that it provides manufacturers of garment care machines with the possibility of enabling consumers to utilize automatically readable identifiers for garment care on a broad scale without the need for coordination with garment manufacturers, thereby increasing the demand for such identifiers. This increased demand may then encourage garment manufacturers to introduce automatically readable identifiers on a broad scale in their respective areas.

[0018] In principle, this invention can be applied to any type of garment care machine, especially because the cost of applying it is quite low. Therefore, dryers and washer-dryer combos are also considered, in addition to conventional washing machines. The garment care machine can have a drum that can rotate about a rotation axis for receiving the garments to be treated. How the rotation axis of the drum is oriented in space is not important. The rotation axis can be oriented substantially horizontally, as described in detail below, but it can also be vertical or oriented at any angle to vertical and horizontal lines.

[0019] The use of articles identified according to the invention in garment care, particularly the care of garments identified according to the invention or the use of containers containing garment care agents identified according to the invention, can be carried out either in or on a garment care machine used for identification according to the invention, or in any other garment care machine capable of reading the corresponding identifier on a transponder, or in which a separate reading device is available for reading the identifier from the transponder.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transponder is permanently mechanically connected to the garment, particularly by adhesive, stitching, or sewing.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the identifier additionally includes a indication of the completed care process for the garment. Thus, the identifier can positively indicate a care process as suitable for the garment, and it can also negatively—almost as a warning—indicate a care process as unsuitable for the garment. Positively, a typical care label might indicate a washing process with a specific maximum temperature; negatively, a typical care label might indicate an unsuitable ironing process. Such markings can be incorporated into the identifier discussed herein.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the identifier is selected from a database existing in the control device. This selection can be made or assisted by the user, and in this context, clothing names given in normal language, especially spoken language, can also be evaluated and translated into corresponding identifiers.

[0023] In an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, the control device is wirelessly connected to a mobile terminal via a second interface. The mobile terminal has a processor and at least one data input device, which communicates with the control device and inputs data forming an identifier via the data input device. The mobile terminal can be, in particular, a portable computer or a smartphone. Therefore, by utilizing widely available communication and data processing equipment, the implementation of the invention can be further aided and facilitated, particularly by utilizing devices (e.g., data input devices) on such mobile terminals, and also allows for the integration of services available on or to be provided on the Internet.

[0024] More preferably, the data input device includes a camera and / or a keyboard, through which data can be read into the processor, and through which the user can input data into the processor. It is conceivable that an existing routine care label could be photographed with such a camera and evaluated by suitable software to form an automatically readable identifier from the resulting instructions, utilizing additional information that can be input via such a keyboard if necessary. The automatically readable identifier can also be formed from instructions input via such a keyboard.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one article additionally includes a container containing a care agent for application during a care process, and within the container, an identifier includes the ingredients of the care agent or a indication of whether a care process is suitable or unsuitable for the application of the care agent. Thus, the invention also opens up the use of automatically readable identifiers for care agents applicable in garment care.

[0026] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first interface and the writable transponder can be connected to each other to exchange data via an electromagnetic near field with an associated communication protocol, particularly Bluetooth, UHF Gen.2, NFC, or ZigBee.

[0027] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the garment care machine is surrounded by a housing, wherein the processing chamber is accessible through a door in the housing, and wherein a first interface is mounted on the housing and near the door.

[0028] More preferably, the care chamber is a detergent container, and the device for caring for clothing includes a roller that is rotatably suspended in the detergent container and permeable to the care liquid, and a drive for driving the roller.

[0029] In another embodiment of the invention, the control device of the garment care machine is configured to set a care program for garment care based on an identifier read by the control device from a transponder fastened to an article for garment care or from a transponder fastened to a container containing a care agent, wherein the care agent is set for use in the care program to be set.

[0030] This has the following particular advantages: the operator does not need to use input elements on the garment care machine to select and set the care program; instead, the care program is determined by the control unit of the garment care machine using information about the identifier of the garment to be cared for or information about the care agent to be used, obtained by reading the transponder. That is, to set a care program, the operator only needs to hold the transponder of the garment to be cared for or the transponder of the care agent container to be used in the care process to a first interface configured for reading. Thus, for example, if a different care agent should be used, a different care program can be easily set to care for the garment.

[0031] In another embodiment of the garment care machine, the control device is configured to retrieve the type of information of the identifier and set the care program according to the type of information retrieved, wherein the type of information of the identifier is device-specific information of the care program or program option, general information of the care program or program option, and / or information of the garment or the care agent.

[0032] In the context of this invention, the device-specific information of the identifier is understood as information whose content and structure correspond to the content and structure of information in the control unit, which should trigger the execution of a care program to be set in the garment care machine. Therefore, for example, the device-specific information can be control commands, codes, or control parameters that can be directly processed by the control device for the execution of the care program. Furthermore, the general information of the identifier is understood as information whose content corresponds to the device-specific information; however, this general information has a syntax or structure that does not correspond to information that can be directly processed by the control device, i.e., this general information cannot be directly executed by the control device for the execution of the care program.

[0033] The type of information requested for identification has the advantage that the transponder for items used to care for clothing already contains information that can be considered for setting care procedures, such as the type of textile, color, weight, or coded care identifier of the clothing. This information may have already been written into the included transponder by the clothing manufacturer. Operators do not need to additionally write such information into the transponder so that it can be processed by the control device.

[0034] In another preferred embodiment of the garment care machine, the control device is configured to translate general information about the care procedure, general information about the procedure options, and information about the garment or the care agent into device-specific information about the care procedure or the procedure options. In this embodiment, for example, the general information about the care procedure or procedure options, and the information about the garment or care agent, can be translated into corresponding device-specific information using a configuration table stored in the control device. In alternative embodiments or additionally, such a configuration table can be queried from the Internet via a suitable communication connection.

[0035] A particular advantage of this implementation is that the control device can handle not only a limited amount of device-specific information, but also information stored by different textile and care product manufacturers in their respective manufacturer-specific identifiers, and which can be directly processed within the control device through this translation. Therefore, in this case, the user does not need to perform their own identification, thereby simplifying operation. User-mandated identification is only advantageous when the user desires a different, user-specific identifier or when the control device cannot provide a meaningful translation. In particular, the allocation table, which can be looked up on the Internet, can be advantageously and continuously updated to supplement new general information and / or correct existing allocations. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention are further illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 A schematic front view of a garment care machine; Figure 2 A schematic side view of a vertical section of a garment care machine; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a mobile terminal; Figure 4 Illustration of clothing; Figure 5 A diagram illustrating a container used for laundry detergent; Figure 6 A schematic process flow for identifying items that can be used for clothing care; Figure 7 An illustrative process flow for identifying alternative methods of using items for clothing care; and Figure 8 An illustrative process flow for reading the identifier of an item that can be used to care for clothing and for setting the care program of a clothing care machine. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Figure 1 A schematic embodiment of a garment care machine 1 according to the invention is shown in a partially cut-away front view. The garment care machine has a housing 2 and a detergent container 3 disposed therein for receiving process liquids, particularly washing and rinsing alkali solutions for textiles. Similarly, Figure 2 A schematic side view of a vertical section of the garment care machine 1 is shown. In the following text, unless otherwise stated, both figures will be referred to together.

[0038] The garment care machine 1 is constructed as a washing machine 1. A liquid-permeable drum 4 is arranged in the care chamber 3, which is configured as a detergent container 3, for receiving garments 5. The drum 4, like the actuator 6, is a device 4, 6 that uses a care solution to care for the garments 5. The drum 4 is driven by the actuator to rotate about a rotation axis 7. The drum 4 has a generally cylindrical perforated outer shell, an annular end base 8, and a rear wall 9, and forms a gap 10 with the detergent container 3. Figure 2 The casing is not explicitly marked, but it can be identified as a dotted line. At the end 8, opposite the door 11 on the casing 2, the detergent container 3 has a circular opening from which a movable, flexible, and sealing collar 12 leads to the door 11. An inlet assembly 13, with corresponding piping, valves, and a rinse plate, allows the care solution, particularly detergent alkali or rinsing alkali, into the detergent container 3, and an outlet assembly 14, with corresponding piping, valves, and a detergent pump, discharges the care solution from the detergent container 3. The rinse plate in the inlet assembly 13 is used to add care agents—such as detergent, water softener, or fabric softener—to fresh water to form a care solution.

[0039] The detergent container 3 is vibratingly suspended within the housing 2 by springs and shock absorbers (not shown for clarity), which compensates for imbalances that may occur, particularly when the drum 4 with the placed clothes 5 is rotating rapidly, without the housing 2 moving. The detergent container 3 is sealed to the housing 2 and a closable door 11 by a collar 12. By opening the door 11, the interior of the drum 4 is accessible to the user for placing or removing the clothes 5.

[0040] To control the operation of the garment care machine 1, the garment care machine has an electronic control device 16, which is connected to the controllable components of the garment care machine 1 via electrical connectors (not shown), particularly to the valves and washing liquid pump of the drive 6, inlet assembly 13, and outlet assembly 14. The control device 16 controls the garment care machine 1 to wash, rinse, and spin-dry the garments 5 placed inside for care according to a predetermined care program.

[0041] The present invention relates to identifying items 5 and 15 that can be used in the care of garments 5 in a garment care machine 1, so that they can be identified by the control device 16 of the corresponding equipment of the garment care machine 1, and in particular, so that the control device 16 can independently select a care program or verify its suitability. Such items 5 and 15 can be garments 5, such as… Figure 4 As shown, or in container 15 for the care product, such as Figure 5 As shown and further explained below.

[0042] exist Figure 6 In the exemplary process flow 30 of the method for identifying at least one item 5, 15 that can be used to care for clothing 5 in the clothing care machine 1 using an identifier 18 provided in the clothing care machine 1, in this method, after turning on the clothing care machine 1 (process step 101), the user selects a "write transponder" mode on the clothing care machine 1 (process step 103), and then sets a care procedure with its options (process step 104), wherein, for example, the set care procedure and / or the set procedure option corresponds to such a procedure or such option: the user wishes to use the procedure / option to treat the clothing 5 in the clothing care machine 1, or, in the case of the care agent 15 to be used, the user wishes to use the procedure or option. In order for the identifier 18 to be stored in the writable transponder 17 already present on the item 5, 15 in the form of device-specific information, in particular in the form of a code corresponding to the set care procedure and / or the set procedure option, the operator holds the transponder 17 on a first interface 18 connected to the control device 16 so as to couple the transponder 17 to the first interface 19 (process step 108).

[0043] If items 5, 15 do not yet have a writable transponder 17, then at least one item 5, 15 is connected to the writable transponder 17, an identifier 18 is stored in the transponder, and the transponder 17 is connected to a first interface 19 to read the identifier 18 before performing the process for caring for garment 5. The first interface is connected to the control device 16 of the garment care machine 1, and care for garment 5 is performed according to the identifier 18. The transponder 17 is connected or coupled to the first interface 19 to write the identifier 18 (in process step 108), and the identifier 18 is written into the transponder 17 through the first interface 19 (in process step 205). Here, the at least one item 5, 15 includes garment 5, and the identifier 18 identifies the type of textile, color, and / or indications of whether the care process is suitable or unsuitable for the garment 5. In particular, the identifier 18 contains instructions that are included in conventional care labels, as they are included in commercially available garment 5 according to applicable standards and general practice. Such instructions are, in particular, general information that can be translated into device-specific information. Therefore, these instructions were developed for at least partially automated processing, i.e., when the so-called identified items 5, 15 return to the garment care machine 1 to perform a garment care process and the garment care machine reads and utilizes these instructions. The first interface 19 and the writable transponder 17 are capable of connecting to each other to exchange data via an electromagnetic near field with associated communication protocols, particularly Bluetooth, UHF Gen.2, NFC, or ZigBee.

[0044] In the identification method, after the transponder 17 is coupled to the first interface 19, the characteristics of the transponder 17 (especially its suitability for writing and the information it already contains) are checked by the control device 16 or the first interface 19 (process step 203). In the subsequent process step 204, the suitability of the transponder 17 is queried in the first interface 19 or the control device 16. If the suitability of the transponder 17 is determined, device-specific information of the identifier 18 or the set care procedure and / or the set procedure options is written (process step 205), and after being written to the transponder 17, the correctness of the written data record is checked (process step 206), and process steps 205 and 206 can be repeated if necessary. If the query in process step 204 does not determine the suitability of the transponder, process steps 205 and 206 are skipped, and the process immediately jumps to process step 207, in which a message regarding whether the identifier 18 was successfully or unsuccessfully stored on the transponder 17 is output to the user. This output can be made optically on the display included in the garment care machine 1, using other display devices (e.g., LEDs), and / or acoustically using a confirmation tone. The user then decouples the transponder 17 from the first interface 19 in the final processing step 110, wherein the user removes the transponder 17 from the interface 19.

[0045] exist Figure 7 In another process flow 31 of the method for identification, illustrated exemplarily, process flow 30 is slightly modified to enable the writing of multiple pieces of information to the transponder 17. Process flow 31 includes the process steps described above, wherein, after process step 104 in which the care procedure and / or program options are set, the set care procedure or set program options are cached in the control device 16 or the first interface 19 (process step 201). In the subsequent process step 105, a query is issued to the user regarding whether additional data should be entered to be stored on the transponder 17. If the user selects to enter additional data, then in the next process step 106, the user can select what type of additional identifier 18 should be. For each selected identifier type, in step 107, the information to be stored is selected from the selection list respectively assigned to that type. This also allows the operator to determine whether the garment 5 is treated only with the set care procedure or not, or whether the garment 5 is treated only when a specific care agent is also used. The selected information is cached again in process step 202. Process steps 105 through 107 and 202 are repeated until the user should no longer store any further information on the responder 17. Then, proceed to process step 108. Other process flows correspond to... Figure 6The process shown is modified in that all the information cached in process steps 201 and 202 is now written to the responder 17 (process step 205a).

[0046] exist Figures 6 to 8 In the diagram, the left column I shows the process steps including user manipulation (e.g., turning on the garment care machine 1). The right column II shows the process steps that operate in the first interface 19 and / or in the control device 16 without manual manipulation. Although there is manual manipulation, the process steps shown in column I, along with the procedural steps required for manual manipulation (e.g., providing a display, selecting input, and having the input implemented by the control device 16), are components of the method used for identification. Furthermore, the garment care machine 1, the control device 16, and the first interface 19 are correspondingly configured to provide the manual manipulation; for example, the garment care machine 1 includes a display (not shown) and an input device (not shown), which are electrically connected to the control device 16.

[0047] The use of the articles 5, 15 identified according to the invention in the care of clothing 5, especially the care of clothing 5 identified according to the invention or the use of the container 15 containing the clothing care agent identified according to the invention, can be carried out either in the clothing care machine 1 used for identification according to the invention or in any other clothing care machine 1 that can read the corresponding identifier 18 on the transponder 17, or in the other clothing care machine, a separate reading device is available for reading the identifier 18 from the transponder 17.

[0048] The transponder 17 is particularly suitable if it can withstand the environmental conditions of the garment care process (i.e., temperatures up to slightly below 100°C, the mechanical load caused by the drum 4 during washing, rinsing, and spin-drying, and the liquids typically used to care for the garment 5), which can be readily achieved through encapsulation in a suitably sturdy sheath material and capable of being written with a sufficiently high amount of data. The transponder 17 is mechanically connected to the garment 5, particularly permanently, for example by gluing, sewing, or stitching. For this purpose, the sheath material of the transponder 17 can contain suitable auxiliary features, such as self-adhesive surfaces or eyelets, into which the transponder can be sewn. It is also conceivable that the identifier 18 additionally carries a notification of the completed care process for the garment 5, which can be written into the transponder 17 after the completed care process, whether as a recommendation or a warning regarding the process.

[0049] Identifier 18 can be selected from database 19 stored in control device 16, for example, based on some descriptions of the corresponding textile (e.g., color and composition), which control device 16 can retrieve from the user via a display and input device on garment care machine 1. Database 11 can exist directly in control device 16, or it can be retrieved from the Internet via a corresponding communication connection if necessary.

[0050] exist Figure 1 In another embodiment also shown, the control device 16 is connected to the mobile terminal 22 via a second interface 21, for example, Figure 3 The smartphone or portable computer shown, mobile terminal 22, has a processor 23 and at least one data input device 24, 25. The processor communicates with the control device 16, and the data input device is used to input data forming the identifier 18. The data input device 24, 25 includes a camera 24 and / or a keyboard 25, particularly a touchscreen keyboard. The camera reads data into the processor 23, and the user can input data into the processor 23 via the keyboard. Such a mobile terminal 22 can also provide an internet connection for forming the identifier 18, while the garment care machine 1 may not have this connection.

[0051] At least one item to be identified 5, 15 may additionally include a container 15 containing a care agent for application in a care procedure, and in the container, the identifier 18 contains the ingredients of the care agent or a indication of whether the care procedure is suitable or unsuitable for the application of the care agent. Figure 5 A container 15 is shown with a transponder 17 fastened thereon and an identifier 18 written therein.

[0052] This eliminates the need for manufacturers of clothing 5 or care products to provide corresponding, automatically readable identifiers 18. Instead, commercially available, universally writable transponders 17 can be used, which are connected (possibly after purchase by the user) to clothing 5 or the container 15 for care products and equipped with corresponding identifiers 18 by means of the corresponding clothing care machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to utilize automatically readable identifiers 18 in clothing care with minimal and cost-effective overhead. This is more or less achieved solely by the manufacturer of the clothing care machine 1, without needing coordination with the manufacturers of clothing 5 or the care products for clothing care. Therefore, it is possible for consumers to use automatically readable identifiers 18 in clothing care on a broad basis, thus also generating or increasing demand for such identifiers 18, especially to encourage manufacturers of clothing 5 or the care products for clothing care to introduce automatically readable identifiers 18 on a broad basis in their respects. Furthermore, it allows users to store their individual clothing care needs, which, if necessary, differ from those of the manufacturers of clothing 5 and care products, in the identifiers 18.

[0053] exist Figure 8 The present invention exemplarily illustrates a process flow 32 for reading out the identifier 18 of items 5, 15 that can be used to care for clothing 5 in clothing care machine 1 using the identifier 18 provided in clothing care machine 1 and setting up a care procedure based on the read identifier 18.

[0054] Process flow 32 includes already... Figure 6 and Figure 7Some of the process steps shown are labeled with the same index and will not be repeated below. In process step 102, the operator selects the mode "Read Transponder" and holds transponder 17 on the first interface 18 connected to the control device 16 to couple transponder 17 to the first interface 19 (process step 108). After coupling, the suitability of transponder 17 is checked (process steps 203 and 204). If such suitability is positively determined, a query is made regarding whether transponder 17 contains an identifier 18 with information about care procedures and / or procedure options (process query 301). If a corresponding identifier 18 with such information is determined, process query 302, which pertains to the type of information about care procedures and / or procedure options, is then performed. Based on the result of process query 302, process flow 32 continues with process steps 303, 304, or 305, wherein in process step 303, device-specific care procedures and / or device-specific procedure options are read from identifier 18; wherein in process step 304, general care procedures and / or general procedure options are read; and wherein in process step 305, information about the item 5 to be cared for and / or about the care agent present in container 15 is read.

[0055] In process step 306 immediately following process step 304, the read general care procedure and / or read general procedure options are translated into device-specific care procedures and / or device-specific procedure options. In process step 307 immediately following process step 305, the read information about the item 15 to be cared for and / or about the care agent can be translated into device-specific care procedures and / or device-specific procedure options. The translation in process steps 305 and 307 can be performed using a corresponding allocation table provided in the memory of the control device 16 of the garment care machine 1. Such an allocation table can also be retrieved from the Internet via a corresponding communication connection if necessary.

[0056] After reading or retrieving the device-specific care procedure and / or device-specific procedure option, in process step 308, the device-specific care procedure and / or device-specific procedure option for the care procedure to be performed is set or selected by means of the control device 16, and in subsequent process step 309, the setting or selection is reported to the operator.

[0057] In an alternative process flow (not shown), the garment care machine 1 can also be configured to read in multiple identifiers 18 and check whether all garments 5 and their identifiers 18 match the settings before selecting or setting a care program or program option. If incompatibility in the handling of garments 5 is determined, a corresponding prompt can be output to the user.

[0058] List of reference numerals 1. Garment care machine 2. Shell 3. Detergent container 4 rollers 5. Clothing 6 drives 7. Axis of rotation 8. End bottom 9. Rear wall 10 gaps 11 doors 12 rings 13 Entry Components 14 Export Components 15 Containers containing laundry detergent 16. Control device 17. Writable transponders 18 Identifiers 19. Database in the control device 20 to the first interface of the transponder 21 Second interface to the mobile terminal 22 Mobile terminals 23 Processors 24. Data input device, camera 25. Data input device, keyboard 30. Process flow for identifying items that can be used for clothing care 31 Alternative process flow for methods of identifying items that can be used for clothing care 32. Process flow for reading the identifier of an item that can be used to care for clothing and for setting the care program of a clothing care machine. 101. Process Steps: "Connecting the Garment Care Machine" 102. Procedure Steps: "Select Mode 'Read Transponder'" 103. Procedure Step: "Select Mode 'Write to Responder'" 104. Procedure Steps: "Setting up nursing procedures and / or procedure options" 105 Process Decision: "Should another identifier be entered?" 106. Procedure Step "Selecting the Identifier Type" 107. Procedure Step "Select Identifier Type from Predefined List" 108. Process step “Couple the transponder with the interface used for reading or writing” 110. Process step "Decouple the transponder from the interface used for reading or writing". 201 Procedure Step "Cache the configured nursing procedures and / or procedure options" 202 Procedure Step "Cache Other Settings" 203 Procedure Step "Check the transponder" 204 Process Inquiry: "Is the transponder suitable?" 205 Procedure Step "Write the identifier (nursing procedure and / or procedure option) to the responder" 205a Procedure Step "Write the identifier (buffer setting) to the responder" 206. Procedure Step "Check the identifier on the transponder" 207 Process Step "Report to User" 301 Procedure query: "Does the identifier contain information about the nursing procedure and / or procedure options?" 302 Process Inquiry: "What type of information is available regarding nursing procedures and / or procedure options?" 303 Procedure Step: "Read device-specific care procedures and / or device-specific procedure options from the transponder" 304 Procedure Step "Read the general nursing procedures and / or general procedure options from the transponder" 305 Procedure Step: "Read information from the transponder about the item to be cared for and / or about the care agent." 306 Process Step “Translate generic nursing procedures and / or generic procedure options into device-specific nursing procedures and / or device-specific procedure options” 307 Process Step: "Translate information about the items to be cared for and / or about the care agents into device-specific care procedures and / or device-specific procedure options." 308 Procedure Step "Setting up nursing procedures and / or procedure options" 309 Process Step "Report to User"

Claims

1. A method for identifying at least one item (5, 15) of clothing (5) in a garment care machine (1) using an identifier (18), the identifier being provided in the garment care machine (1), wherein the at least one item (5, 15) is connected to a writable transponder (17), the identifier (18) being stored in the transponder, and the transponder (17) being connected to a first interface (19) for reading the identifier (18) before performing a process for caring for the clothing (5), the first interface being connected to a control device (16) of the garment care machine (1), and caring for the clothing (5) is performed according to the identifier (18), wherein, The transponder (17) is connected to the first interface (19) to write the identifier (18), and the identifier (18) is written into the transponder (17) through the first interface (19); The method is characterized in that the at least one item (5, 15) includes clothing (5), and in the method, the identifier (18) identifies the type of textile, color and / or indicates whether the care process is suitable or unsuitable for the care of the clothing (5).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transponder (17) is permanently mechanically connected to the garment (5), particularly by adhesive, stitching or sewing.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the identifier (18) additionally provides a notification of the completed care process of the garment (5).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the identifier (18) is selected from a database (19) present in the control device (11).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (16) is connected to a mobile terminal (22) via a second interface (21), the mobile terminal (22) having a processor (23) and at least one data input device (24, 25), the processor communicating with the control device (16) and inputting data forming the identifier (18) via the data input device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the data input device (24, 25) includes a camera (24) and / or a keyboard (25), the camera can read the data into the processor (23), and the user can input the data into the processor through the keyboard.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one article (5, 15) additionally includes a container (15) containing a care agent for application in a care procedure, and wherein the identifier (18) contains an ingredient of the care agent or a indication of whether a care procedure is suitable or unsuitable for the application of the care agent.

8. A garment care machine (1) for caring for garments (5), comprising a care chamber (3) for receiving the garments (5), an inlet assembly (13) for allowing care liquid to enter the care chamber (3), devices (4, 6) for caring for the garments (5) with the care liquid, an outlet assembly (14) for discharging the care liquid from the care chamber (3), and a control device (16) for controlling the garment care machine (15), wherein, The control device (16) is configured to care for the garment (5) according to the identifier (18), and the control device (16) is connected to a first interface (19) which is capable of reading the identifier (18) from a writable transponder (17) fastened to an article (5, 15) that can be used to care for the garment (5) via the first interface, wherein the control device (16) and the first interface (19) are configured to write the identifier (18) into the writable transponder (17); The feature is that the at least one item (5, 15) includes clothing (5), and the control device (16) is configured to read and write the identifier (18), which identifies the type of textile, color and / or prompts on whether the care process is suitable or unsuitable for the care of the clothing (5).

9. The garment care machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein the first interface (19) and the writable transponder (17) are connectable to each other to exchange data via an electromagnetic near field having an associated communication protocol, particularly Bluetooth, UHF Gen.2, NFC or ZigBee.

10. The garment care machine (1) according to any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the garment care machine is surrounded by a housing (2), wherein, The processing chamber (3) is accessible through a door (11) in the housing (2), and the first interface (19) is mounted on the housing (2) and close to the door (11).

11. The garment care machine (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the garment care machine has a second interface (21), the control device (16) is connected to a mobile terminal (22) through the second interface, the mobile terminal (22) has a processor (23) and at least one data input device (24, 25), the processor communicates with the control device (16), and the data forming the identifier (18) can be input through the data input device.

12. The garment care machine (1) according to claim 11, wherein the data input device (24, 25) includes a camera (24) and / or a keyboard (25).

13. The garment care machine (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the control device (16) is configured to set a care program for garment care according to the identifier (18), the identifier being read by the control device (16) from the transponder (17) fastened to the article (5) for caring for the garment (5) or from the transponder (17) fastened to the container (15) containing the care agent, wherein, The care agent is configured for use in the care procedure to be set.

14. The garment care machine (1) according to claim 13, wherein, The control device (16) is configured to determine the type of information of the identifier and set the care procedure according to the type of information determined, wherein the type of information of the identifier is device-specific information of the care procedure or procedure option, general information of the care procedure or procedure option, and / or information of the clothing or the care agent.

15. The garment care machine (1) according to claim 14, wherein the control device (16) is configured to translate general information about the care procedure, general information about the procedure options, or information about the garment or the care agent into device-specific information about the care procedure or device-specific information about the procedure options.

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