WASHING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WASHING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a washing machine according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for operating a washing machine.

[0002] Such washing machines are already known from the prior art in a large number of embodiments and comprise a housing, a tub arranged in the housing, a drum which can be rotated about an axis of rotation in the tub for holding laundry, a door for loading and unloading the drum, a water inlet device which can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to a fresh water source and can be controlled by means of a control system of the washing machine for supplying the washing machine with fresh water, a dispenser drawer for flushing detergent into the drum and a circulation device which can be controlled by the control system for circulating a washing solution formed from the detergent and the fresh water.

[0003] In particular, US 2007 / 240456 A1, EP 1 951 947 B1 and DE 10 2019 121641 A1 show washing machines of this type.

[0004] The invention therefore addresses the problem of improving a washing machine and a method for operating a washing machine.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a washing machine having the features of patent claim 1, which is characterized in that the detergent drawer is arranged on an inner side of the door facing the drum and has a first and a second compartment, each for receiving detergent, wherein, depending on an actuation by means of the controller, the first compartment can be fluidly connected to the recirculation device and the second compartment can be fluidly connected directly to the water inlet device. Furthermore, this problem is solved by a method for operating a washing machine having the features of patent claim 8. The washing machine according to the invention can be designed as a household appliance or a commercial appliance, i.e., a washing machine for professional use. Furthermore, the washing machine can be designed as a combination appliance for washing and drying laundry, namely as a so-called washer-dryer.The laundry items can be, in particular, textiles. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set out in the following subclaims.

[0006] The advantage achievable with the invention lies in particular in that a washing machine and a method for operating a washing machine are improved. Due to the inventive design of the washing machine and the method for operating a washing machine, the detergent drawer is structurally and functionally decoupled from a control panel of the washing machine according to the invention. Accordingly, embodiments of the washing machine according to the invention are conceivable in which the control panel does not have to have an opening for a detergent drawer. This results in completely new design possibilities for improving the overall visual impression of the washing machine according to the invention. Furthermore, according to the invention, additional installation space is created behind the control panel of the washing machine for other components of the washing machine, which space is usually taken up by the detergent drawer.Furthermore, by means of the fluidic assignment of the first compartment of the dispenser drawer to the recirculation device and the second compartment of the dispenser drawer directly to the water inlet device, it is possible to flush the two aforementioned compartments of the dispenser drawer essentially independently of one another.

[0007] In principle, the washing machine according to the invention can be freely selected in terms of type, functionality, material, and dimensions within wide, suitable limits. See, for example, the relevant statements in the introduction to the description.

[0008] The washing machine according to the invention provides that the first compartment can be fluidly connected to the awash device by means of a bypass nozzle device, wherein the bypass nozzle device has a bypass nozzle inlet that is fluidly connected to the awash device, a bypass nozzle outlet that is fluidly connected directly to the drum, and a bypass nozzle outlet that is fluidly connected to the first compartment. Preferably, the two bypass nozzle outlets are designed to be coordinated with one another such that a main volume flow of the wash liquor can be introduced directly into the drum and a secondary volume flow of the wash liquor, which is smaller than the main volume flow, can be introduced into the drum by means of the first compartment. This makes it possible, in a structurally and manufacturing-technically simple manner, to fill the drum directly with wash liquor and simultaneously flush detergent from the first compartment into the drum.The preferred embodiment of this refinement further has the advantage that a specific, advantageous volume ratio can be set between the washing liquor directly flushed into the drum and the washing liquor introduced into the drum via the first compartment. The recirculating nozzle device can be configured as a component of the recirculating device. However, this is not mandatory. For example, the recirculating nozzle device can be arranged on another component of the washing machine, for example, the door.

[0009] Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the washing machine has a recirculation nozzle device according to claim 2 which is connected to the recirculation device in a flow-conducting manner and a main volume flow of the washing liquor is introduced directly into the drum and a secondary volume flow of the washing liquor which is smaller than the main volume flow is introduced into the drum by means of the first compartment.

[0010] A particularly advantageous development of the aforementioned development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the recirculation device and the recirculation nozzle device are designed in such a way that the washing solution can be introduced into the drum and the first compartment as a pendulum jet. In this way, a pendulum jet that is advantageous for a washing process in the drum can also be advantageously used for flushing detergent from the first compartment into the drum. For example, by means of the pendulum jet introduced into the first compartment, the detergent contained in the first compartment can be rinsed out of the first compartment essentially completely, i.e., residue-free.

[0011] Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention according to claim 9 provides that the washing liquor is introduced into the drum and the first compartment as a pendulum jet by means of the recirculation device and the recirculation nozzle device.

[0012] A further advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the second compartment has a siphoning mechanism designed such that the washing solution from the second compartment can only be introduced into the drum once a predetermined fill level of the second compartment has been reached with fresh water. This makes it possible to delay the introduction of the detergent from the second compartment in a simple design and manufacturing process. For example, it is thus possible to use the second compartment for a detergent designed as a fabric softener and / or a detergent with certain additives. The siphoning mechanism effectively prevents unwanted premature leakage of the detergent from the second compartment.

[0013] Another advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the water inlet device can be directly connected to the drum in a flow-conducting manner via a water path independent of the detergent drawer, depending on the activation by the controller. In this way, it is possible, for example, to dispense with a separate pre-wash compartment in the detergent drawer. If a pre-wash is to take place, the detergent intended for this purpose is added directly to the laundry in the drum, and the drum is supplied with fresh water from the water inlet device via the aforementioned water path. The detergent used for the pre-wash can, for example, be added to the drum as a capsule or in a detergent ball.

[0014] An advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention according to one of claims 2 to 5 provides that the recirculating nozzle device is arranged on or in a door sealing ring for sealing the tub when the door is closed, preferably that the recirculating nozzle device is designed as an integral component of the door sealing ring. This allows the recirculating nozzle device to be arranged on the washing machine, for example, independently of the recirculating device, in a manner that is simple in terms of design and manufacturing technology. This applies particularly to the preferred embodiment of this development.

[0015] A further advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the washing machine is designed as a washer-dryer, wherein a filter for filtering process air for drying the laundry in the drum is arranged in a region of the water inlet device. Preferably, the water inlet device and the filter are arranged behind a control panel of the washing machine, wherein the filter is arranged on the control panel side and the water inlet device is arranged behind the filter, away from the control panel. In this way, the functionality of the washing machine according to the invention is significantly improved. Furthermore, the installation space that is no longer occupied by the detergent drawer in the washing machine according to the invention is made usable for the aforementioned filter for the process air. The preferred embodiment of this development also provides a particularly user-friendly arrangement of the filter.

[0016] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention in a sectional front view, Figure 2 shows the embodiment in a sectional side view, Figure 3 shows the embodiment in a sectional plan view and Figure 4 shows the embodiment in an enlarged detailed view in the area of ​​the circulating nozzle device and the first compartment of the detergent dispenser, in a partial side sectional view.

[0017] In the Fig. 1 to 4 An embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention is shown purely by way of example.

[0018] The washing machine 2 is designed here as a so-called washer-dryer for textiles and comprises a housing 4, a tub 6 arranged in the housing 4, a drum rotatable about a rotational axis in the tub 6 for receiving laundry, namely the textiles, a door 8 for loading and unloading the drum, a water inlet device 10 which can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to a fresh water source and can be controlled by means of a control of the washing machine 2 for supplying the washing machine 2 with fresh water, a dispenser drawer 12 for flushing detergent 14 into the drum and a circulation device 16 which can be controlled by the control for circulating a wash liquor 32 formed from the detergent 14 and the fresh water 11. The rotational axis of the drum, the drum, the laundry, the fresh water source and the control are shown in the Fig. 1 to 4 not shown. The detergent 14 is only in the Fig. 4and designed as a washing powder. However, other forms of detergent known to those skilled in the art are also conceivable.

[0019] The dispenser drawer 12 is arranged on an inner side of the door 8 facing the drum and has a first compartment 18 and a second compartment 20, each for holding detergent 14. Depending on the control system, the first compartment 18 can be connected to the recirculation device 16, and the second compartment 20 can be connected directly to the water inlet device 10. The first compartment 18 is designed as a main wash compartment, and the second compartment 20 is designed as a fabric softener compartment.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the first compartment 18 is fluidly connected to the flooding device 16 by means of a flooding nozzle device 22, wherein the flooding nozzle device 22 has a flooding nozzle inlet 24 fluidly connected to the flooding device 16, a flooding nozzle outlet 26 fluidly connected directly to the drum, and a flooding nozzle outlet 28 fluidly connected to the first compartment 18, and wherein the two flooding nozzle outlets 26, 28 are designed to be coordinated with one another in such a way that a main volume flow 30 of the wash liquor 32 can be introduced directly into the drum and a secondary volume flow 34 of the wash liquor 32, which is smaller than the main volume flow 30, can be introduced into the drum by means of the first compartment 18. See in particular the Fig. 4. The flow nozzle device can, for example, be arranged on or in a door sealing ring (not shown) for sealing the tub when the door is closed, for example in such a way that the flow nozzle device is designed as an integral part of the door sealing ring.

[0021] The recirculation device 16 and the recirculation nozzle device 22 are designed to be coordinated with one another in such a way that the washing solution 32 can be introduced simultaneously as a pendulum jet into the drum and the first compartment 18.

[0022] The second compartment 20 has a siphoning mechanism (not shown) which is known per se to a person skilled in the art and which is designed such that the washing solution 32 from the second compartment 20 can only be introduced into the drum after a predetermined filling level of the second compartment 20 with fresh water 11 has been reached.

[0023] The water inlet device 10 can also be directly connected to the drum via a water path 36 independent of the dispenser drawer 12, depending on the control system. In conjunction with the aforementioned water path 36, a prewash is thus also possible in the washing machine 2. Since the dispenser drawer 12 only has the first and second compartments 18, 20, i.e., no prewash compartment, the detergent (not shown) for the prewash is simply added directly to the drum with the laundry.

[0024] As already explained above, the washing machine 2 is designed as a so-called washer-dryer. A filter 38 for filtering a process air (not shown) for drying the laundry in the drum is arranged for this purpose in an area of ​​the water inlet device 10, wherein the water inlet device 10 and the filter 38 are arranged behind a control panel 40 of the washing machine 2, wherein the filter 38 is arranged on the control panel side and the water inlet device 10 is arranged behind the filter 38, remote from the control panel. See, for example, the Fig. 1 and 3 in a summary.

[0025] The functioning of the washing machine according to the invention and the method according to the invention according to the present embodiment are described below with reference to Fig. 1 to 4 explained.

[0026] First, a user (not shown) loads the drum of washing machine 2 with the laundry (not shown) and adds the detergent required for the intended prewash directly to the laundry in the drum. The user closes door 8, selects an automatic program for the laundry using control panel 40 in a manner known to those skilled in the art, and starts the automatic program.

[0027] By means of the control, the water inlet device 10 is controlled in such a way that fresh water 11 flows from the fresh water source into the water inlet device 10 and is first introduced by means of the water inlet device 10 via the water path 36 directly into the tub 6 and thus into the drum with the laundry and the detergent for the pre-wash.

[0028] After the pre-wash has ended, the recirculation device 16 is activated by the control system such that the wash liquor 32 flows through the recirculation nozzle inlet 24 into the recirculation nozzle device 22 and is divided by the recirculation nozzle outlets 26, 28 into a main volume flow 30 introduced directly into the drum and a secondary volume flow 34 introduced into the first compartment 18 of the dispenser drawer 12. The secondary volume flow 34 flows into the first compartment 18 via an inlet opening 42, receives the detergent 14 stored in the first compartment 18 for the main wash and discharges it from the first compartment 18 via an outlet opening 44 and into the drum. Both the main volume flow 30 and the secondary volume flow 34 are designed as a pendulum jet.

[0029] After the main wash cycle is complete, the laundry is finally subjected to a fabric softening process. For this purpose, the water inlet device 10 is controlled by the controller such that the fresh water 11 from the fresh water source is fed directly into the second compartment 20. However, the detergent for the fabric softening process (not shown) is not immediately rinsed out of the second compartment and introduced into the drum. First, the second compartment 20 fills with fresh water 11 until the fill level in the second compartment 20 is so high that the siphoning mechanism (not shown) enables this detergent to be discharged from the second compartment 20 using the fresh water 11.

[0030] Since the washing machine 2 is designed as a washer-dryer, the selected automatic program also provides for the laundry to be dried after the end of the washing process in a manner known per se to those skilled in the art. From time to time, it may be necessary to clean or even replace the filter 38 for filtering the process air (not shown) used to dry the laundry. For this purpose, the filter 38 is arranged in a location on the washing machine 2 that is easily accessible to the user, namely behind the control panel 40. The filter 38 can, for example, be designed like a drawer, so that the user can pull the filter 38 out of the washing machine 2 for cleaning or replacement and then push it back in again, similar to a detergent drawer commonly used in the prior art.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the present embodiment. See, for example, the relevant statements in the introduction to the description. In particular, the invention is not limited to the specific design, manufacturing, and process details of the present embodiment, but is defined by the present claims.

Claims

1. Washing machine (2), comprising a housing (4), a suds container (6) arranged in the housing (4), a drum rotatable about an axis of rotation in the suds container (6) for receiving laundry, a door (8) for loading and unloading the drum, a water supply device (10), which can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to a fresh water source and can be controlled by means of a control means of the washing machine (2), for supplying the washing machine (2) with fresh water (11), and a dispensing compartment (12) for dispensing detergent (14) into the drum, the dispensing compartment (12) being arranged on an inner side of the door (8) facing the drum and having a first and a second compartment (18, 20) for receiving detergent (14) in each case, characterised by a recirculation device (16) which can be controlled by the control means for circulating a detergent solution (32) formed from the detergent (14) and the fresh water (11), and in that depending on control by means of the control means, the first compartment (18) can be connected to the recirculation device (16) and the second compartment (20) can be connected directly to the water supply device (10) in a flow-conducting manner, and in that the first compartment (18) can be connected to the recirculation device (16) in a flow-conducting manner by means of a recirculation nozzle mechanism (22), the recirculation nozzle mechanism (22) having a recirculation nozzle inlet (24) which is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the recirculation device (16), a recirculation nozzle outlet (26) which is connected in a flow-conducting manner directly to the drum, and a recirculation nozzle outlet (28) which is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the first compartment (18), preferably in that the two recirculation nozzle outlets (26, 28) are designed to be coordinated with one another such that a main volume flow (30) of the detergent solution (32) can be introduced directly into the drum and a secondary volume flow (34) of the detergent solution (32) which is smaller than the main volume flow (30) can be introduced into the drum by means of the first compartment (18).

2. Washing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the recirculation device (16) and the recirculation nozzle mechanism (22) are designed to be coordinated with one another such that the detergent solution (32) can be introduced into the drum and the first compartment (18) as a pendulum jet.

3. Washing machine (2) according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the second compartment (20) has a siphon mechanism which is designed such that the detergent solution (32) from the second compartment (20) can only be introduced into the drum after a predetermined filling level of the second compartment (20) with fresh water (11) has been reached.

4. Washing machine (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, depending on the control by means of the control means, the water supply device (10) can be connected in a flow-conducting manner directly to the drum via a water path (36) which is independent of the dispensing compartment (12).

5. Washing machine according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the recirculation nozzle mechanism is arranged on or in a door sealing ring for sealing the suds container when the door is closed, preferably in that the recirculation nozzle mechanism is designed as an integral part of the door sealing ring.

6. Washing machine (2) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the washing machine (2) is designed as a washer-dryer, a filter (38) for filtering process air for drying the laundry in the drum being arranged in a region of the water supply device (10), preferably in that the water supply device (10) and the filter (38) are arranged behind a control panel (40) of the washing machine (2), the filter (38) being arranged on the control panel side and the water supply device (10) being arranged behind the filter (38) away from the control panel.

7. Method for operating a washing machine (2) according to any of claims 1 to 6, according to which, depending on control of the water supply device (10) and the recirculation device (16) by means of the control means, the first compartment (18) is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the recirculation device (16) and the second compartment (20) is connected directly to the water supply device (10).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that a main volume flow (30) of the detergent solution (32) is introduced directly into the drum and a secondary volume flow (34) of the detergent solution (32) which is smaller than the main volume flow (30) is introduced into the drum by means of the first compartment (18).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that the detergent solution (32) is introduced into the drum and the first compartment (18) as a pendulum jet by means of the recirculation device (16) and the recirculation nozzle mechanism (22).