Household appliance comprising a filter element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (100) with a container (105) for receiving liquid, wherein the container (105) has a drain opening (109) and an inlet element (111), a pump (115) for pumping the liquid, a transfer line (113) which fluidically connects the drain opening (109) to the inlet element (111), wherein the pump (115) is configured to pump liquid from the container (105) through the drain opening (109) into the transfer line (113), to pump the liquid in a pumping direction (114) through the transfer line (113), and to return the liquid from the transfer line (113) and through the inlet element (111) back to the container (105), wherein the household appliance (100) has a filter element (125) which is fluidly connected to the transfer line (113).The filter element (125) is designed to filter impurities (131) from the liquid pumped through the transfer line (113) in the pumping direction (114), wherein the filter element (125) has a downstream side (125-1) with respect to the pumping direction (114). The household appliance (100) has a substance element (127) which is attached to the downstream side (125-1) of the filter element (125), wherein the substance element (127) is designed to release a conditioning substance into the liquid pumped through the transfer line (113).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance with a filter element.

[0002] Certain variants of conventional household appliances, in particular laundry care appliances, have fluid-carrying lines through which fluids are pumped. In laundry care appliances, in particular, washing liquid is pumped to clean the laundry. During operation of conventional household appliances, contaminants such as lint, dirt, or dust are absorbed into the fluid and carried along by the fluid through the fluid-carrying lines. In order to filter such contaminants from the fluid, certain variants of conventional household appliances, in particular laundry care appliances, have filter elements through which the fluid flows.

[0003] Furthermore, in conventional household appliances, in particular laundry care appliances, care substances, in particular laundry care substances such as detergents, are added to ensure effective cleaning of the household appliance through the care substance absorbed in the fluid, in particular to ensure effective laundry care of the laundry placed in the laundry care appliance through the laundry care substance absorbed in the fluid. However, the corresponding care substance often has to be added to the household appliance in a complex manner, for example, by being introduced into the dispenser tray of a laundry care appliance or by being added directly to the laundry in the washing drum.

[0004] WO 2013 / 068300 A1 discloses a washing machine with a filtration device for filtering washing liquid.

[0005] WO 2017 / 204725 A1 discloses a combination unit for storing a cleaning agent.

[0006] The published patent application CN 1 08 158 531 A discloses a dishwasher.

[0007] The published patent application EP 0 597 513 A1 discloses a washing machine.

[0008] It is the object of the present invention to provide a household appliance with a filter element, wherein additional care substance can be released through the filter element.

[0009] This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0010] According to one aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a household appliance comprising a container for holding liquid, wherein the container has a drain opening and an inlet element, a pump for pumping the liquid, a pumping line which fluidically connects the drain opening to the inlet element, wherein the pump is designed to pump liquid from the container through the drain opening into the pumping line, to pump the liquid in a pumping direction through the pumping line, and to feed the liquid from the pumping line and through the inlet element back to the container, wherein the household appliance has a filter element which is fluidically connected to the pumping line, wherein the filter element is designed to filter impurities from the liquid pumped through the pumping line in the pumping direction, wherein the filter element has a downstream side with respect to the pumping direction,wherein the household appliance comprises a substance element which is attached to the downstream side of the filter element, wherein the substance element is designed to deliver care substance to the liquid pumped through the pumping line.,

[0011] This achieves the technical advantage that the filter element, which is fluidically connected to the pumping line, combines two functionalities in the filter element. Firstly, the filter element ensures effective filtration of contaminants from the fluid pumped through the pumping line. Secondly, the filter element functions as a reservoir for the care substance, ensuring the release of the care substance into the fluid pumped through the pumping line during use of the filter element.

[0012] The filter element fluidically connected to the pumping line according to the present disclosure has a substance element which is designed to deliver the care substance directly to the liquid pumped through the pumping line.

[0013] This eliminates the need for the user to manually add the care substance during each cleaning process, as the release of the care substance through the substance element ensures a sufficient concentration of the care substance in the pumped liquid. Thus, the care substance contained in the pumped liquid can be effectively used for device care during the pumping process. In particular, the care substance can ensure effective laundry care in a laundry care appliance, for example, or effective dish care in a dishwashing appliance, for example.

[0014] In one embodiment, the substance element attached to the filter element can be replaced alone, or the filter element and the substance element together, after each care process of the household appliance, thus providing a disposable filter element that is easy to replace by the user. The substance element of a disposable filter element, in particular, contains a quantity of care substance that is sufficient to provide sufficient care substance for at least a single care process.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the substance element can contain a quantity of care substance that is sufficient for a plurality of care processes, thus providing a reusable filter element that only needs to be replaced after longer service intervals. When replacing the reusable filter element, either a new filter element with substance element can be inserted, or alternatively, a new substance element with new care substance can simply be attached to the existing filter element. Since the reusable filter element can also become clogged by accumulated contaminants during operation of the household appliance, the filter element must be replaced after longer service intervals for this reason too, so that in this case, either a new filter element with substance element can be inserted, or the contaminants can be removed from the filter element.

[0016] In one embodiment, the substance element attached to the downstream side of the filter element is designed to release the care substance into the liquid passed through the filter element.

[0017] In one embodiment, the substance element is designed to continuously release the care substance over a period of time into the liquid flowing around the filter element.

[0018] In one embodiment, the filter element is configured to filter impurities from the liquid conveyed through the pumping line when the substance element is attached to the downstream side of the filter element. This ensures that the filtering function of the filter element and the substance delivery function of the substance element can be performed simultaneously, so that care substance can be delivered to the liquid and impurities can be filtered out of the liquid at the same time.

[0019] In one embodiment, the filter element is designed to filter impurities from the liquid conveyed through the pumping line once the substance element attached to the downstream side of the filter element has released the care substance into the liquid pumped through the pumping line. This causes a time delay in the filtering of impurities by the filter element. The substance element first releases the care substance into the liquid. In particular, a detergent tablet attached to the filter element dissolves, thereby exposing the downstream side of the filter element, allowing the filter element to subsequently effectively filter impurities.

[0020] The substance element is in particular shaped as a body of care substance, in particular laundry care substance tab, which is soluble by the liquid pumped through the pumping line in order to release the care substance into the liquid pumped through the pumping line.

[0021] The care substance comprises, in particular, a single care substance or a plurality of care substances. The at least one care substance comprises, in particular, a water-soluble care substance or a water-soluble care substance mixture. The at least one care substance comprises, in particular, a solubility-enhancing additive, which can increase the solubility of the care substance.

[0022] In particular, the care substance comprises a plurality of different care substances which have different solubilities in water in order to release the different care substances into the liquid at different operating times during operation of the household appliance.

[0023] If the household appliance is designed as a laundry care appliance, in particular a washing machine or tumble dryer, the care substance released by the substance element can in particular comprise one laundry care substance or a plurality of laundry care substances, e.g. detergent, fabric softener, bleaching agent, descaling agent, and / or disinfectant.

[0024] If the household appliance is designed as a dish care appliance, in particular a dishwasher, the care substance released by the substance element can in particular comprise one dish care substance or a plurality of dish care substances, e.g. dish detergent, rinse aid, descaling agent, and / or disinfectant.

[0025] In particular, the filter element and the substance element attached to the filter element are arranged in the pumping line.

[0026] In particular, the household appliance is designed as a laundry care appliance for laundry care, comprising a tub for holding washing liquid, wherein the tub has a drain opening and an inlet element, a pump for pumping the washing liquid, a pumping line which fluidically connects the drain opening to the inlet element, wherein the pump is designed to pump washing liquid from the container through the drain opening into the pumping line, to pump the washing liquid in a pumping direction through the pumping line, and to feed the washing liquid from the pumping line and through the inlet element back to the tub, wherein the household appliance has a filter element which is fluidically connected to the pumping line, wherein the filter element is designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid pumped through the pumping line in the pumping direction,wherein the filter element has a downstream side with respect to the pumping direction, wherein the household appliance has a substance element which is attached to the downstream side of the filter element, wherein the substance element is designed to deliver care substance to the washing liquid pumped through the pumping line.

[0027] In a conventional laundry care process in a laundry care appliance, the laundry is wetted with washing liquid in a washing drum and then treated by the rotation of the drum. This can lead to abrasion of plastic particles, particularly small-diameter microplastic particles, particularly in synthetic fiber items. The plastic particles are carried along by the washing liquid and are then returned to the laundry during a recirculation process or released into the environment during a draining process.

[0028] The filter element fluidically connected to the pumping line according to the present disclosure is advantageously designed to filter out impurities, in particular plastic particles, from the washing liquid pumped through the pumping line.

[0029] A household appliance is defined as a device used for household management. This can be a large household appliance, such as a washing machine, a tumble dryer, or a dishwasher. It can also be a small household appliance, such as a water heater, a coffee maker, a food processor, e.g., a blender, or a cleaning appliance.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the filter element has a support structure, wherein the support structure has a downstream side with respect to the pumping direction and an upstream side with respect to the pumping direction, and the filter element has a filter device, in particular a filter membrane, which is designed to filter impurities from the liquid pumped through the pumping line, wherein the filter device is fastened to the upstream side of the support structure, to the downstream side of the support structure, or within the support structure, and wherein the substance element is fastened to the downstream side of the support structure.

[0031] This achieves the technical advantage that the support structure can ensure effective mechanical stabilization of the substance element attached to it, so that the filter element is not damaged, in particular does not tear, even at a high volume flow of liquid pumped through the circulation line. The filter device, in particular the filter membrane, arranged in particular on the upstream side of the support structure, ensures effective filtration of the liquid directed onto the filter element. The filter device, like the substance element, can be arranged in particular on the downstream side of the support structure, wherein in this case the filter device is attached to the downstream side of the support structure and the substance element is attached to the filter device.The filter device can in particular be fastened within the support structure, wherein in this case in particular a section of the support structure encloses the filter device at least in sections.

[0032] In particular, the material of the support structure and / or the filter device is biodegradable. In particular, the filter device is formed from a textile material, in particular cellulose, or from a metal material, in particular aluminum. In particular, the support structure is formed from a plastic material or cardboard.

[0033] In particular, the downstream side and / or the upstream side of the support structure is flat. In particular, the downstream side and / or the upstream side of the support structure has a meandering structure in order to increase the attachment surface of the substance element arranged on the downstream side of the support structure and / or in order to increase the filtering surface of the filter device arranged on the upstream side of the support structure.

[0034] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the support structure is shaped as a support grid with grid openings, wherein the filter device, in particular filter membrane, covers the grid openings of the support grid at least in sections.

[0035] This achieves the technical advantage that a support grid ensures particularly effective stabilization of the substance element and the filter device, in particular the filter membrane. In particular, the filter device, in particular the filter membrane, covers the grid openings of the support grid at least in sections.

[0036] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the filter element has a collar which surrounds the substance element at least in sections, in particular completely, wherein the collar is connected in particular to the support structure.

[0037] This achieves the technical advantage that the collar, which at least partially surrounds the substance element, ensures effective attachment of the filter element to a fluid-carrying component of the household appliance, in particular the dispenser tray of a laundry care appliance. In particular, the collar and the support structure are formed as a single piece. In particular, the collar can be connected to a sealing element to ensure fluid-tight attachment of the filter element within the household appliance.

[0038] In particular, the collar has a first collar opening facing the upstream side of the filter element and a second collar opening facing away from the downstream side of the filter element in order to supply liquid passed through the filter element to the substance element through the first collar opening and to discharge the care substance released by the substance element together with the liquid through the second collar opening.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the filter element, in particular the support element and / or the collar, has at least one handle element, in particular a handle tab, wherein the at least one handle element is arranged in particular on the downstream side and / or on the upstream side of the support structure and / or on the filter device and / or on the collar.

[0040] This achieves the technical advantage of enabling the user to effectively grip the filter element on the handle element, thus ensuring effective insertion and removal of the filter element into and from the household appliance.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the substance element is fastened in a form-fitting, force-fitting, friction-fitting or material-fitting manner, in particular glued, to the downstream side of the filter element, in particular to the downstream side of the support structure.

[0042] This achieves the technical advantage that a particularly stable fastening of the substance element is ensured by the positive, non-positive, frictional and / or material-locking fastening of the substance element to the filter element, in particular to the support structure.

[0043] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the downstream side of the support structure has at least one undercut into which a projection of the substance element is inserted in order to fasten the substance element in a form-fitting manner to the downstream side of the support structure, and / or the downstream side of the support structure is fastened to the substance element by a tongue and groove connection in order to fasten the substance element in a force-fitting manner to the downstream side of the support structure, and / or the substance element comprises care substance which is applied to the support structure, in particular applied to a surface of the support structure and / or introduced into interstices of the support structure.

[0044] This achieves the technical advantage of ensuring, depending on the application, an advantageous attachment of the substance element to the support structure of the filter element. The support structure can, in particular, have intermediate spaces and form a spatial network in which the substance element is accommodated at least in sections.

[0045] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the substance element completely covers the downstream side of the filter element, in particular the downstream side of the support structure, or the downstream side of the filter element, in particular the downstream side of the support structure, has a region covered by the substance element and a region not covered by the substance element, wherein the uncovered region is designed to filter impurities from the pumped liquid, wherein in particular after detachment of the substance element, the region previously covered by the substance element and the region previously not covered by the substance element are designed to filter impurities from the pumped liquid.

[0046] This achieves the technical advantage that, when the substance element completely covers the downstream side of the filter element, in particular the downstream side of the support structure, a particularly effective release of the care substance into the liquid is ensured. If the substance element, in particular the care tablet, detaches from the filter element during operation of the household appliance, the area previously covered by the substance element is available to filter impurities from the pumped liquid.

[0047] If, on the other hand, the substance element does not completely cover the downstream side of the filter element, in particular the downstream side of the support structure, the substance element enables the release of the care substance in the area covered by the substance element, and the filter element enables the filtering of contaminants in the area not covered by the substance element. If the substance element, in particular the care tablet, detaches from the filter element during operation of the household appliance, the area previously covered by the substance element is now available in addition to the area previously not covered by the substance element to filter contaminants from the pumped liquid.

[0048] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the filter element, in particular the filter device and the support structure, is formed as a one-piece molded filter element, in particular a plastic injection-molded component, wherein in particular an upstream side of the filter element is formed as a surface with pores in order to filter the liquid passed through the filter element.

[0049] This achieves the technical advantage that a one-piece production of the filter element ensures particularly simple and cost-effective manufacturability. Here, the one-piece filter element, in particular the support structure and the filter device, are combined in one piece in a single component. In particular, the filter element can be formed using a plastic injection molding process. To ensure an effective filtering function of the one-piece filter element, in particular an upstream side of the filter element can be formed as a surface with pores in order to filter the liquid passed through the filter element. In particular, the pores can be introduced into the surface by a laser after the one-piece filter element has been produced.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the filter element, in particular the filter device and the support structure, is formed as a one-piece filter element, in particular a two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally curved membrane, wherein the one-piece filter element has in particular bulges which are received in receptacles of the substance element.

[0051] This achieves the technical advantage that a one-piece production of the filter element ensures particularly simple and cost-effective manufacturability. In the one-piece filter element, in particular the support structure and the filter device are combined in a single component. The membrane has particularly advantageous stability in order to be able to withstand the fluid pressure of the fluid conveyed through the pumping line. In particular, the membrane is formed from a textile material or a metal material. The two- or three-dimensional curvature of the filter element, in particular the membrane, can effectively increase the surface area of ​​the filter element available for filtering the fluid.The bulges arranged in particular on the integrally formed filter element allow the area available for attachment to the substance element to be effectively increased, so that the bulges of the integrally formed filter element, in particular membrane, introduced into the receptacles of the substance element enable a particularly stable attachment of the substance element to the filter element.

[0052] A filter device of the filter element is designed as a deformable filter device which, after dissolving the substance element, is deformable into a bag-shaped filter device which is designed to filter impurities from the liquid pumped through the pumping line.

[0053] This achieves the technical advantage that, due to the deformable properties of the filter element, in particular of the filter device, after the substance element, in particular the care tab, has dissolved, i.e. after the substance element has completely released the care substance, the filter element can be deformed into a bag-shaped filter element, in particular a bag-shaped filter device, so that the area of ​​the filter element, in particular of the filter membrane, available for filtering is significantly increased.

[0054] In particular, the deformable filter element, in particular the deformable filter device, has bulges that are received in corresponding receptacles of the substance element, so that after the filter element has been inserted into the household appliance, an effective attachment of the substance element to the filter element is ensured. If the substance element dissolves during contact with the liquid, the attachment between the filter element and the substance element also dissolves, so that the deformable filter element, in particular the deformable filter device, is unfolded, and the pressure of the liquid flowing through the filter element deforms, in particular inflates, the filter element into a bag-shaped filter element, in particular a bag-shaped filter device.

[0055] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the pumping line has a first line section which fluidically connects the discharge opening of the container to the pump, and the pumping line has a second line section which fluidically connects the pump to the inlet element, wherein the filter element is arranged in the first line section and / or the second line section.

[0056] This achieves the technical advantage that a filter element arranged in the second line section downstream of the pump can be particularly advantageously subjected to an effective pumping pressure, or that a filter element arranged in the first line section upstream of the pump ensures filtration of contaminants before they can penetrate into the pump.

[0057] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the household appliance has a dispenser tray for receiving care substance, wherein the dispenser tray is fluidically connected to the pumping line, wherein the filter element is arranged in the dispenser tray.

[0058] This achieves the technical advantage that a filter element located in the dispenser tray is particularly accessible to the user of the household appliance and can therefore be easily replaced. The liquid pumped through the circulation line is directed through the filter element located in the dispenser tray, and the liquid is then fed through the circulation line to the inlet element and the container.

[0059] In particular, a filter element with a substance element is arranged in the induction bowl and another filter element with a substance element is arranged in the pumping line.

[0060] In particular, the substance element arranged on the downstream side of the filter element, in particular on the downstream side of the support structure, faces a dispenser tray underside. Thus, liquid supplied, in particular, from an open dispenser tray top can first hit the filter element and then be supplied to the substance element facing the dispenser tray underside, whereby the care substance can be effectively released into the liquid and subsequently absorbed into the dispenser tray.

[0061] In particular, the household appliance has a fresh water connection which is designed to supply fresh water to the dispenser tray. In this case, a control system of the household appliance is particularly designed, after the filter element has been inserted into the dispenser tray, to first activate the fresh water connection to supply fresh water to the dispenser tray in a first step in order to dissolve the substance element attached to the filter element, which substance is in particular shaped as a body of care substance, in the fresh water and to expose the filter element, and in a second step following the first step, to activate the pump in order to pump liquid in the pumping direction through the pumping line and to supply the liquid to the exposed filter element in order to filter impurities from the liquid.

[0062] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the dispenser tray has a tray projection and a pressure piece, wherein the filter element, in particular support structure and / or collar, of the filter element rests on the tray projection, and wherein the pressure piece rests on the filter element, in particular filter device of the filter element, in order to fix the filter element in the dispenser tray.

[0063] This achieves the technical advantage that the filter element, in particular the support structure of the filter element, can be effectively fastened, in particular clamped, between the bowl projection and the pressure piece of the induction bowl.

[0064] In particular, the induction bowl further comprises at least one sealing element which is arranged in particular between the pressure piece and the filter element, in particular support structure and / or collar of the filter element, and / or which is arranged in particular between the bowl projection and the filter element, in particular support structure and / or collar of the filter element, in order to ensure a fluid-tight seal between the induction bowl and the filter element.

[0065] In particular, the pressure piece can be subjected to pressure by the user of the household appliance when closing the dispenser tray in order to press the pressure piece onto the filter element, in particular the support structure and / or collar, and to ensure effective fixation.

[0066] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the household appliance has a receiving chamber which is fluidically connected to the pumping line, wherein the filter element is arranged in the receiving chamber, and wherein the receiving chamber can be closed in particular by a closure element.

[0067] This achieves the technical advantage that a filter element arranged in the receiving chamber is advantageously accessible by the user of the household appliance after opening the closure element and can thus be easily replaced. The receiving chamber, which can be closed by the closure element, is arranged in particular behind a control panel or a front wall of the household appliance. The control panel and the front wall extend in particular along the front of the household appliance. The control panel extends in particular along the front of the household appliance and at least in sections along the top of the household appliance.

[0068] In particular, a filter element with a substance element is arranged in the induction bowl and / or a further filter element with a substance element is arranged in the pumping line and / or a further filter element with a substance element is arranged in the receiving chamber.

[0069] In particular, the closure element is arranged on a front side and / or top side of the laundry care appliance, in particular on a control panel or a front wall of the household appliance, wherein the closure element closes the receiving chamber of the household appliance, and wherein the filter element is arranged in the receiving chamber.

[0070] In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the substance element is shaped as a body of care substance, in particular a care substance tablet, which is soluble by the liquid pumped through the pumping line in order to release the care substance to the liquid pumped through the pumping line, or the substance element has a water-soluble element shell which delimits an element interior in which the care substance is accommodated, wherein the water-soluble element shell is soluble by the liquid pumped through the pumping line in order to release the care substance to the liquid.

[0071] Further embodiments are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a household appliance; Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a household appliance with a pump according to one embodiment; Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a household appliance with a pump according to another embodiment; and Figs. 4A-4E show schematic views of a substance element of a household appliance attached to a filter element during a care process of the household appliance; Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a first embodiment; Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to the first embodiment; Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a second embodiment;8 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a third embodiment; Figs. 9A-9B show schematic views of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a fourth embodiment; and Fig. 10 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance in a fluid-conducting component of the household appliance, in particular a dispenser tray, according to a fifth embodiment.

[0072] Fig. 1shows a schematic view of a general household appliance 100, in particular a laundry care appliance 100-1, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100-1 comprises a dispenser tray 101 into which laundry care substance, such as detergent, can be poured. The laundry care appliance 100-1 comprises a door 103 for loading the laundry care appliance 100-1 with laundry. The dispenser tray 101 and the door 103 are arranged on a front side 102-1 of the laundry care appliance 100-1. The laundry care appliance 100-1 has a control panel 104-1 with at least one control element 104-2 for operating the laundry care appliance 100-1, which is arranged on the front side 102-1 of the laundry care appliance 100-1 and extends at least in sections along an upper side 102-2 of the laundry care appliance 100-1, wherein the dispenser tray 101 is accommodated in the control panel 104-1.

[0073] In particular, the control panel 104-1 or a front wall 108 arranged on the front side 102-1 of the laundry care appliance 100-1 below the control panel 104-1 has a closure element 106, through which a user of the laundry care appliance 100-1 gains access to a receiving area of ​​the laundry care appliance 100-1 closed by the closure element 106, for example in order to Fig. 1 to replace the filter element (not shown) of the laundry care appliance 100-1. The closure element 106 is arranged in particular on the front side 102-1 and / or on a top side 102-2 of the laundry care appliance 100-1.

[0074] Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a household appliance with a pump according to an embodiment.

[0075] The household appliance 100, designed in particular as a laundry care appliance 100-1, has a container 105, in particular a suds container 105, for holding liquid, in particular washing liquid. The laundry care appliance 100-1 has a laundry drum 107 for holding laundry. The container 105 has a drain opening 109 for draining the liquid from the container 105. The laundry care appliance 100-1 has an inlet element 111, in particular an inlet nozzle, which is designed to supply pumped liquid to the container 105 or to the laundry held in the laundry drum 107.

[0076] The laundry care appliance 100-1 has a circulation line 113, which fluidically connects the discharge opening 109 to the inlet element 111. The laundry care appliance 100-1 has a pump 115 for pumping liquid. The laundry care appliance 100-1 further has a discharge line 117, which fluidically connects the pump 115 to a Fig. 2only schematically shown outer area 119 of the laundry care appliance 100-1.

[0077] Here, the pumping line 113 has a first line section 121 which fluidically connects the discharge opening 109 to the pump 115 and the pumping line 113 has a second line section 123 which fluidically connects the pump 115 to the inlet element 111.

[0078] The pump 115 is designed to pump liquid from the container 105 through the drain opening 109 into the pumping line 113 during a pumping process and to pump the pumped liquid in a pumping direction 114 through the pumping line 113, and to feed the washing liquid from the pumping line 113 and through the inlet element 111 back to the container 105 in order to wet the laundry again with the liquid, in particular washing liquid, during a pumping process or to flood the already wetted laundry again for an improved cleaning or washing process.

[0079] In addition, the pump 115 is designed to pump liquid out of the container 105 through the first line section 121 of the pumping line 113 and through the pumping line 117 from the laundry care appliance 100-1 during a pumping process.

[0080] The laundry care appliance 100-1 further comprises a filter element 125 which is fluidically connected to the pumping line 113, in particular arranged in the pumping line 113, and is designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid pumped through the pumping line 113.

[0081] In the Fig. 2 In the embodiment shown, the filter element 125 is arranged in the second line section 123 of the pumping line 113 in order to filter impurities from the liquid during a pumping process.

[0082] In particular, the filter element 125 can also be arranged in the first line section 121 of the pumping line 113 in order to filter impurities from the pumped liquid during a pumping process and a pumping out process. In particular, the filter element 125 can also be arranged on the inlet element 111, in particular on a sleeve of the laundry care appliance 100-1 surrounding the inlet element 111. In particular, the user can Fig. 2 not shown closure element 106 of the laundry care appliance 100 gains access to the filter element 125, for example to change the filter element 125.

[0083] The filter element 125 has a downstream side 125-1 with respect to the pumping direction 114 of the liquid and the filter element 125 has an upstream side 125-2 with respect to the pumping direction 114 of the liquid.

[0084] The laundry care appliance 100 has a substance element 127 which is attached to the downstream side 125-1 of the filter element 125 and is designed to deliver care substance, in particular laundry care substance, to the liquid pumped through the pumping line 113, in particular to the liquid pumped through the filter element 125.

[0085] The laundry care appliance 100-1 has a dispenser tray 101 for receiving care substance, in particular laundry care substance, which is fluidly connected to the container 105, in particular the inlet element 111, by a supply line 129 in order to supply the received care substance to the container 105.

[0086] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a household appliance with a pump according to another embodiment.

[0087] The Fig. 3The further embodiment of the household appliance 100, which is designed in particular as a laundry care appliance 100-1, shown in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment of the laundry care appliance, except that the dispenser tray 101 is fluidly connected to the pumping line 113 and that the filter element 125 is accommodated in the dispenser tray 101.

[0088] The pumping line 113 has a tray feed section 126 which fluidically connects the pump 115 to the induction tray 101, and the pumping line 113 has a tray discharge section 128 which fluidically connects the induction tray 101 to the container 105, in particular to the inlet element 111.

[0089] Washing liquid pumped by the pump 115 through the pumping line 113 is fed to the dispenser tray 101 through the tray feed section 126, passed through the dispenser tray 101 and then fed to the container 105 through the tray discharge section 128.

[0090] Here, the filter element 125 and the substance element 127 arranged on the downstream side 125-1 of the filter element 125 are arranged in the induction bowl 101, whereby the user is given advantageous access to the filter element 125, e.g. when changing the filter element 125.

[0091] In particular, the filter element 125 and the substance element 127 can be arranged in the first line section 121 and / or the tray supply section 126 and / or the tray discharge section 128 of the circulation line 113. In particular, the filter element 125 and the substance element 127 can also be arranged on the inlet element 111, in particular on a sleeve of the laundry care appliance 100 surrounding the inlet element 111.

[0092] In particular, the user can Fig. 3 A closure element (not shown) of the laundry care appliance 100 provides access to the filter element 125 and the substance element 127.

[0093] The Figures 4A to 4E show schematic views of a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance during a maintenance process of the household appliance.

[0094] The Figs. 4A to 4Eshow a filter element 125 and a substance element 127 attached to the filter element 125, which are arranged in a fluid-carrying component of the household appliance 100, in particular the dispenser tray 101 or the pumping line 113 of a laundry care appliance 100. Liquid, in particular washing liquid, is pumped in a pumping direction 114 through the fluid-carrying component of the household appliance 100, in particular the dispenser tray 101 or the pumping line 113 of the laundry care appliance 100.

[0095] The filter element 125 has a collar 139 which is at least partially, in particular completely, circumferential and which rests on a projection of the fluid-carrying component, in particular a projection of the induction bowl 101.

[0096] The filter element 125 has a side 125-1 downstream of the pumping direction 114 and an upstream side 125-2 with respect to the pumping direction 114. As can be seen from the Fig. 4AAs can be seen, the substance element 127 is attached to the downstream side 125-1 of the filter element 125, which substance element is designed to release care substance, in particular laundry care substance, to the pumped liquid, in particular washing liquid.

[0097] In the Figures 4A to 4E In the embodiment shown, the substance element 127 is shaped as a body of care substance, in particular laundry care substance tab, which is dissolvable by the pumped liquid, in particular washing liquid, in order to release the care substance, in particular laundry care substance, into the pumped washing liquid.

[0098] Even if this is in the Figures 4A to 4Eis not shown, the substance element 127 can alternatively have a water-soluble element shell which delimits an element interior in which the care substance, in particular laundry care substance, is accommodated, wherein the water-soluble element shell is dissolvable by the pumped liquid, in particular washing liquid, in order to release the laundry care substance to the pumped liquid.

[0099] As from the Fig. 4B As can be seen, the substance element 127, in particular laundry care substance tab, disintegrates through contact with the liquid, in particular washing liquid, and is flushed from the downstream side 125-1 of the filter element 125 into the working area of ​​the household appliance 100, in particular into the tub 105 of the laundry care appliance 100-1.

[0100] As from the Fig. 4CAs can be seen, the disintegration of the substance element 127 frees the filter element 125 from the substance element 127, so that the Fig. 4C The filter element 125 shown is designed to filter impurities 131 from the pumped liquid, in particular washing liquid. In particular, the filter element 125 freed from the substance element 127 filters impurities 131 in the liquid flow that are larger than the pore size of the filter element 125.

[0101] As from the Fig. 4D As can be seen, the contaminants 131 are deposited on the upstream side 125-2 of the filter element 125.

[0102] As from the Fig. 4E As can be seen, the filter element 125 can be removed for cleaning if the contaminants 131 are to be removed from the filter element 125, in particular from the upstream side 125-2 of the filter element 125.

[0103] Fig. 5shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a first embodiment.

[0104] The filter element 125 has an upstream side 125-2 with respect to the pumping direction 114 of the liquid, in particular washing liquid, and a downstream side 125-1 with respect to the pumping direction 114 of the liquid, in particular washing liquid. A substance element 127, in particular a laundry care substance tab, is attached to the downstream side 125-1 of the filter element 125, which is designed to release substance, in particular laundry care substance, into the pumped liquid.

[0105] The Fig. 5 The filter element 125 shown has a support structure 133 which has a downstream side 133-1 with respect to the pumping direction 114 and an upstream side 133-2 with respect to the pumping direction 114.

[0106] Here, the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133 corresponds to the downstream side 125-1 of the filter element 125.

[0107] Here, the filter element 125, in particular the support structure 133, has a collar 139 which extends at least in sections, in particular completely around it.

[0108] The substance element 127, in particular laundry care substance tab, is attached to the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133.

[0109] The filter element 125 further comprises a filter device 135, in particular a filter membrane or filter gauze, which is designed to filter impurities 131 from the pumped liquid, in particular washing liquid, wherein the filter device 135 is attached to the upstream side 133-2 of the support structure 133.

[0110] The support structure 133 prevents the filter element 125 from tearing under the pressure load occurring during operation and the support structure 133 also serves as a holding structure for the substance element 127.

[0111] The substance element 127 is, in particular, firmly bonded, to the support structure 133. The downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133 may, in particular, have an undercut 136 into which a projection 137 of the substance element 127 is inserted in order to firmly bond the substance element 127 to the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133.

[0112] Alternatively, the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133 can be force-fitted to the substance element 127 by a tongue and groove connection.

[0113] As from the Fig. 5As can be seen, the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133 has, in particular, a meander-shaped structure, whereby a particularly effective contact between the substance element 127 and the filter element 125 can be ensured.

[0114] Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to the first embodiment.

[0115] The Fig. 6 The filter element 125 shown according to the first embodiment shows a view rotated by 90° of the filter element shown in Fig. 5 shown filter element 125.

[0116] The Fig. 6 The filter element 125 shown according to the second embodiment has a collar 139 which surrounds the substance element 127 at least in sections.

[0117] The collar 139 enables the filter element 125 to be held, centered, and handled in order to receive and seal the filter element 125 in the fluid-conducting component, in particular within the dispenser tray 101. Alternatively, the filter element 125, in particular the collar 139 or the support structure 133, can have a gripping element, in particular a gripping tab. In particular, the collar 139 and the support structure 133 can be formed as a single piece, and the gripping element, in particular the gripping tab, can be attached to the integrally formed collar 139 and support structure 133.

[0118] Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a second embodiment.

[0119] Here, the substance element 127 is positively attached to a support structure 133 of the filter element 125, in particular to a downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133. Here, the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133 can in particular have an undercut 136, into which a projection 137 of the substance element 127 is inserted in order to positively attach the substance element 127 to the downstream side 133-1 of the support structure 133, as shown in FIG. Fig. 7 is shown.

[0120] Here too, the support structure 133 has a collar 139 which extends at least partially around the circumference.

[0121] Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a third embodiment.

[0122] Here, a filter device 135 and a support structure 133 of the filter element 125 are formed in one piece, wherein the integrally formed filter element 125 has a two- or three-dimensional shape, and wherein the integrally formed filter element 125 in particular has bulges 141 which are received in receptacles 143 of the substance element 127 in order to ensure in particular a positive connection between the substance element 127 and the filter element 125.

[0123] The two- or three-dimensional shape of the one-piece filter element 125 provides the filter element 125 with sufficient pressure stability and, thanks to the bulges 141, offers a significantly larger filter surface compared to a flat filter element 125.

[0124] Here too, the filter element 125 has a collar 139 which extends at least partially around the circumference.

[0125] The Figures 9A and 9Bshow schematic views of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance according to a fourth embodiment.

[0126] Here, a filter device 135 and a support structure 133 of the filter element 125 are formed in one piece, wherein the integrally formed filter element 125 has a two- or three-dimensional shape, and wherein the integrally formed filter element 125 in particular has bulges 141 which are inserted into receptacles 143 of the substance element 127.

[0127] As can be seen from the Figures 9A and 9b As can be seen, the filter element 125 is designed according to the invention as a deformable filter element 125 which, after the substance element 127 has been dissolved by the liquid flowing through the filter element 125, is deformable into a bag-shaped filter element 125 which is designed to filter impurities 131 from the pumped liquid.

[0128] Here too, the filter element 125 has a collar 139 which extends at least partially around the circumference.

[0129] Fig. 10 shows a schematic view of a filter element and a substance element attached to a filter element of a household appliance in a fluid-carrying component of the household appliance, in particular a dispenser tray, according to a fifth embodiment.

[0130] Here, the household appliance 100 has a fluid-carrying component, in particular a dispenser tray 101, for receiving care substance, wherein the dispenser tray 101 is fluidically connected to the pumping line 113, wherein the filter element 125 is arranged in the dispenser tray 101.

[0131] The filter element 125 and the substance element 127 attached to the filter element 125 correspond to the Fig. 5 illustrated first embodiment.

[0132] The dispenser tray 101 has a tray projection 101-1 and a pressure piece 101-2, wherein the filter element 125, in particular support structure 133 of the filter element 125, rests on the tray projection 101-1, and wherein the pressure piece 101-2 rests on the filter element 125, in particular filter device 135 of the filter element 125, in order to fix the filter element 125 in the dispenser tray 101.

[0133] In addition, the induction bowl 101 further comprises a sealing element 101-3, which is arranged in particular between the pressure piece 101-2 and the filter element 125, in particular between the filter device 135 of the filter element 125 and the pressure piece 101-2, in order to ensure a fluid-tight seal between the induction bowl 101 and the filter element 125.

[0134] Here too, the filter element 125, in particular support structure 133, has a collar 139 which extends at least partially around the circumference.

[0135] All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the subject matter according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

[0136] The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures. List of reference symbols

[0137] 100 Household appliance 100-1 Laundry care appliance 101 Dispenser tray 101-1 Tray projection 101-2 Pressure piece 101-3 Sealing element 102-1 Front of the laundry care appliance 102-2 Top of the laundry care appliance 103 Door 104-1 Control panel 104-2 Control element 105 Container 106 Locking element 107 Laundry drum 108 Front wall 109 Drain opening 111 Inlet element 113 Circulation line 114 Pumping direction 115 Pump 117 Drain line 119 Exterior area 121 First section of the circulation line 123 Second section of the circulation line 125 Filter element 125-1 Downstream side of the filter element 125-2 Upstream side of the filter element 126 Tray feed section 127 Substance element 128 Tray discharge section 129 Feed line 131 Impurities 133 Support structure 133-1 Downstream side of the support structure 133-2 Upstream side of the support structure 135 Filter device 136 Undercut of the support structure 137 Projection of the substance element 139 Collar 141 Bulges of the filter element 143 Receptacles of theSubstanzelements

Claims

1. Household appliance (100) with a container (105) for receiving liquid, wherein the container (105) has a drain opening (109) and an inlet element (111), a pump (115) for pumping the liquid, a recirculation line (113), which connects the drain opening (109) fluidically to the inlet element (111), wherein the pump (115) is embodied to pump liquid out of the container (105) through the drain opening (109) into the recirculation line (113), to pump the liquid in a pump direction (114) through the recirculation line (113), and to supply the liquid from the recirculation line (113) and through the inlet element (111) back to the container (105), wherein the household appliance (100) has a filter element (125) which is fluidically connected to the recirculation line (113), wherein the filter element (125) is embodied to filter impurities (131) from the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113) in the pump direction (114), wherein the filter element (125) has a downstream side (125-1) in respect of the pump direction (114), and wherein the household appliance (100) has a substance element (127) which is fastened to the downstream side (125-1) of the filter element (125), wherein the substance element (127) is embodied to output care substance to the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113), characterised in that a filter apparatus (135) of the filter element (125) is embodied as a deformable filter apparatus (135) which can be deformed after dissolution of the substance element (127) to form a pouch-shaped filter apparatus (135), which is embodied to filter impurities (131) out from the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113).

2. Household appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the filter element (125) has a support structure (133), wherein the support structure (133) has a downstream side (133-1) in respect of the pump direction (114) and an upstream side (133-2) in respect of the pump direction (114), and that the filter element (125) has a filter apparatus (135), in particular filter membrane, which is embodied to filter impurities (131) out from the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113), wherein the filter apparatus (135) is fastened to the upstream side (133-2) of the support structure (133), to the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133), or within the support structure (133), and wherein the substance element (127) is fastened to the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133).

3. Household appliance (100) according to claim 2, characterised in that the support structure (133) is formed as a supporting grid with grid openings, wherein the filter apparatus (135), in particular filter membrane, covers the grid openings of the supporting grid at least in sections.

4. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter element (125) has a collar (139) which circulates around the substance element (127) at least in sections, in particular completely, wherein the collar (139) is connected in particular to the support structure (133).

5. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the substance element (127) is fastened in a form-fitting, force-fitting, friction-fitting and / or material-bonded manner to the downstream side (125-1) of the filter element (125), in particular to the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133).

6. Household appliance (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133) has at least one undercut (136), in which a projection (137) of the substance element (127) is inserted, in order to fasten the substance element (127) to the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133) in a form-fitting manner, and / or that the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133) is fastened to the substance element (127) by means of a tongue-and-groove joint, in order to fasten the substance element (127) to the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133) in a force-fitting manner, and / or that the substance element (127) comprises care substance which is applied to the support structure (133), in particular to a surface of the support structure (133) and / or introduced into intermediate spaces of the support structure (133).

7. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the substance element (127) completely covers the downstream side (125-1) of the filter element (125), in particular the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133), or that the downstream side (125-1) of the filter element (125), in particular the downstream side (133-1) of the support structure (133), has a region covered by the substance element (127) and a region not covered by the substance element (127), wherein the region which is not covered is embodied to filter impurities (131) out from the pumped liquid, wherein in particular after dissolution of the substance element (127), the region previously covered by the substance element (127) and the region previously not covered by the substance element (127) is embodied to filter impurities (131) out from the pumped liquid.

8. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter element (125), in particular the filter apparatus (135) and the support structure (133), is formed as an integrally moulded filter element (125), in particular plastic injection moulded component, wherein in particular an upstream side (125-2) of the filter element (125) is embodied as a surface with pores, in order to filter the liquid routed through the filter element (125).

9. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the recirculation line (113) has a first line section (121), which connects the drain opening (109) of the container (105) fluidically with the pump (115), and that the recirculation line (113) has a second line section (123), which connects the pump (115) fluidically with the inlet element (111), wherein the filter element (125) is arranged in the first line section (121) and / or the second line section (123).

10. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the household appliance (100) has a detergent dispenser tray (101) for receiving care substance, wherein the detergent dispenser tray (101) is fluidically connected to the recirculation line (113), wherein the filter element (125) is arranged in the detergent dispenser tray (101).

11. Household appliance (100) according to claim 10, characterised in that the detergent dispenser tray (101) has a tray projection (101-1) and a compression piece (101-2), wherein the filter element (125), in particular support structure (133) and / or collar (139) of the filter element (125), rests on the tray projection (101-1) and wherein the compression piece (101-2) rests on the filter element (125), in particular filter apparatus (135) of the filter element (125), in order to fix the filter element (125) in the detergent dispenser tray (101).

12. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the household appliance (100) has a receiving chamber, which is fluidically connected to the recirculation line (113), wherein the filter element (125) is arranged in the receiving chamber and wherein the receiving chamber can be sealed off in particular by a closing element (106).

13. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the substance element (127) is shaped as a matter made from care substance, in particular care substance tab, which can be dissolved by the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113), in order to output the care substance to the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113), or the substance element (127) has a water-soluble element casing, which bounds an element interior, in which the care substance is received, wherein the water-soluble element casing can be dissolved by the liquid pumped through the recirculation line (113) in order to output the care substance to the liquid.

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