Water-bearing household appliance

Abstract

A washing machine (11), a water-bearing household appliance, has a water tank (14) containing a drum (15) as a treatment chamber, the water tank having a downward drain (51). The washing machine also has a pump (33), a filter (40) between the drain and the pump, and a water supply system with water pipes, valves, the pump, and the filter. A flexible or bendable flex pipe (52) connects to the drain (51) and runs downwards from the drain at an angle between 15° and 0° to the vertical. A length-adjustable and essentially horizontal telescopic pipe (60) connects to the flex pipe (52) and leads to the filter (40). A drain valve (66), which can be designed as an actively closing valve or as a check valve, is arranged between the telescopic pipe and the filter. Behind the drain valve (66) the filter (40) is located at a short distance.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0001] The invention relates to a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a washing machine, wherein the household appliance has a water tank with a treatment chamber therein and a downward drain, a pump, a filter and a water guide.

[0002] It is known from DE 10 2020 213 968 B3 that laundry in a washing machine is not supplied with water via a fully flooded tub, but rather water is introduced from above into the drum and onto the laundry.

[0003] From DE 10 2021 209 568 A1 it is known how water in a washing machine can be applied to a filter or to sieves installed in the filter in order to achieve an advantageous filtering function.

[0004] Another filter device for a washing machine is known from DE 10 2019 203 809 B3. This filter device can be easily backwashed for cleaning.

[0005] EP 4 086 383 A1 discloses a washing machine comprising a unit that is arranged below a drum container with a rotatable drum inside, and can be pulled out like a drawer. This unit contains a pump, a filter, and valves that are more easily accessible after the unit is pulled out. To ensure a water connection even when the unit is pulled out, it can have a flexible, adjustable-length water line connecting to a drain from the drum container.

[0006] EP 2 123 821 A1 discloses a washing machine with a drum container and a rotating drum inside it. A drain and water line lead from the drum container to a filter. This filter is intended to filter the water draining from the drum container. A check valve is provided in the line upstream of the filter to prevent water from flowing back in the opposite direction, thus re-entering the drum container and possibly reaching the laundry inside, along with impurities from the filter.

[0007] WO 2014 / 067212 A1 discloses yet another washing machine that has a drum container with a rotatable drum inside. A water-saving device is arranged below the washing machine, in which water taken from one washing process can be temporarily stored. It can then be reused for another washing process. Valves are provided in a water line running downwards from the washing machine.

[0008] EP 2 324 751 A1 discloses a dishwasher having a wash chamber and, beneath it, a drain, filter, and pump. A check valve may be provided to prevent backflow of water.

[0009] US 2021 / 071336 A1 discloses another machine with a drum container and a rotating drum arranged therein, which rotates around a vertical axis. Here, the entire machine is designed as a kind of drawer that can be pulled out from the front of a housing and then loaded from above. Instead of a washing function, a drying function or a spin function can also be provided. The water lines used as connections are designed as flexible lines similar to a bellows.

[0010] DE 20 2009 004 799 U1 discloses a dishwasher that has a pull-out unit in the form of a dish basket and / or a cistern similar to a drawer. It can be pulled out horizontally from a housing or body and can thus be easily loaded from above. A drain line to a wastewater pipe can be designed as a telescopic line.

[0011] GB 2 255 709 A discloses a dishwasher with a treatment chamber, beneath which functional units can be arranged in a drawer-like structure that can be pulled out from under the treatment chamber. A water connection is made via a flexible hose that allows for the pull-out mechanism.

[0012] EP 2 443 985 A2 describes a dishwasher with a filter arrangement behind a drain. This is intended to collect contaminants from the escaping water for better and easier disposal. TASK AND SOLUTION

[0013] The invention is based on the object of creating a water-conducting household appliance as mentioned above, with which problems of the prior art can be solved and, in particular, it is possible to design the structure of such a household appliance in a relatively simple and practical manner as well as being easy to install and repair, whereby desired functions can also be implemented within the household appliance.

[0014] This object is achieved by a water-conducting household appliance having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated into the content of the description by express reference.

[0015] The water-conducting household appliance has a water tank, in the case of a washing machine often referred to as a so-called tub. In the water tank there is a treatment chamber, in a washing machine usually the so-called drum, which can be rotated by means of a drive motor. The water tank has a downward drain to allow water to drain away. Advantageously the water tank, particularly together with the treatment chamber, has a device to direct water from above onto objects arranged in the treatment chamber, such as laundry. A pump is connected downstream of the downward drain, with a filter arranged between the drain and the pump. This has the advantage that larger objects that could damage the pump can be filtered out of the draining water.Furthermore, the water-using household appliance has a water supply system, which includes water pipes and valves. The pump, filter, and drain can also be considered part of the water supply system.

[0016] According to the invention, a flexible or bendable flex pipe that carries water is connected to the drain. This flex pipe runs at an angle of between 15° and 0° to the vertical from the drain, which is advantageously arranged essentially vertically, downwards. A length-adjustable telescopic pipe is connected to this flex pipe, which in turn leads to the aforementioned filter. The telescopic pipe runs essentially horizontally or at an angle of between 0° and 20° to the horizontal. A drain valve is arranged between the telescopic pipe and the filter, which is preferably designed as a closable valve, alternatively also as a simple check valve. This will be explained in more detail below. The filter, in turn, is arranged downstream of the drain valve, so that the water flow to the filter can possibly be adjusted or stopped using the drain valve.The filter is advantageously located just behind the drain valve, particularly advantageously at a distance of less than 10 cm or even less than 5 cm.

[0017] The flexible flex line allows the downstream water supply to be moved, for example, arranged in a previously mentioned functional module and extended, thus providing a certain degree of freedom of movement. This is particularly advantageous in conjunction with the telescopic line, which allows for easy telescoping. Furthermore, the water tank can be moved freely due to its standard spring-loaded suspension. The flex line allows for a certain degree of movement or tolerance, particularly for both the water tank and the telescopic line.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drain valve can be arranged between the telescopic line and the filter in such a way that the drain valve is accessible from the outside after the telescopic line has been detached from the filter, i.e., for cleaning, maintenance, repair, or replacement. This enables practical and resource-efficient operation of the household appliance. Furthermore, the telescopic line, in particular the flexible line, makes it possible and helpful to move the drain valve out of the household appliance, advantageously with an aforementioned solution with a movable functional module. This greatly increases the accessibility of the drain valve, making it particularly easy to maintain, clean, and / or repair.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drain valve, or at least one of its valve seats, can be arranged at the end of the telescopic line and toward the filter. This virtually automatically ensures that the drain valve is accessible after the telescopic line is loosened or separated from the filter. Furthermore, the drain valve can also be designed to form the connection between the telescopic line and the filter, so that separate connecting means such as couplings or the like can be omitted or integrated into the drain valve or the telescopic line.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the telescopic line, the drain valve, the filter and the pump can be arranged in a functional module which is designed independently or as a movable structural unit that can be handled independently. For example, it can be pre-assembled during assembly and can be more easily installed as a complete unit in the household appliance. In a similar way, it can be easily removed from it. This structural unit can advantageously be arranged in the lower area of ​​the water-conducting household appliance below the water tank and the treatment chamber. The flexible line can be connected to one end of the telescopic line so that the two merge directly into one another. This end of the telescopic line towards the flexible line can remain largely stationary when the functional module is moved, so that the length of the telescopic line changes and the other end moves along with the functional module.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the functional module can be moved forward out of the household appliance, preferably horizontally. In particular, it can be extendable, for which purpose a corresponding rail guide can be provided to mount the functional module with the rail guide in the household appliance. The functional module can preferably be designed such that it can be extended to at least 50% of its length in one pulling direction.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drain valve can be provided in a separate valve assembly, which can be installed and removed independently, so that it is arranged between the telescopic line and the filter. It is advantageous that the valve assembly is not visible from the outside and thus not accessible when the telescopic line is connected to the filter. This allows the valve assembly to be installed in a watertight manner.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drain valve can be designed as a force-loaded, self-closing check valve. It preferably has a closing body that can be pressed into a closed position by means of a force against a valve seat in a direction opposite to a water flow from the treatment chamber and from the telescopic line into the filter. This force can be a separately generated force, for example, by means of a spring or an actuator; alternatively, it can be a structurally generated force. Finally, it is also possible for this force to be generated by the weight of the closing body itself, particularly if the closing body is mounted or mounted at an angle, as a type of valve flap.The check valve with the closing body is then designed and mounted in such a way that, in the closed position, the closing body is pressed against the valve seat solely by gravity to close the check valve. Advantageously, a rotational axis or rotary shaft of the valve flap is arranged above the valve flap, with the entire valve flap being arranged below it.

[0024] The drain valve may comprise an actuator, which may preferably be configured as an electric motor or an electromagnet. The drain valve comprises a valve flap movable by the actuator and a valve seat.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the closing body can be spring-loaded in the closed position, for which a spring-loaded bearing device can be provided for the closing body. Alternatively, a separate spring can simply rest on the closing body and press it against the valve seat. If water is to flow from the water tank through the drain, its pressure or weight can be sufficient to push the closing body open against the force of the spring, allowing the water to pass through and empty the water tank and drain, especially the flexible pipe and the telescopic pipe. Such complete emptying serves to avoid hygiene problems caused by remaining or residual water.

[0026] In general, the valve flap and / or valve seat can be arranged in a plane that is at an angle of between 10° and 45° to the vertical. Thus, it is more or less upright.

[0027] In an embodiment of the invention, the closing body or a valve flap can be rounded, preferably even circular. Thus, a valve can be of simple design and integrated into a typically round line, in particular a telescopic line.

[0028] In a further embodiment of the invention, the valve flap and / or the valve seat can be designed to be elastic. This can be achieved, in particular, through the design and / or choice of material, preferably an elastic plastic or rubber.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flexible cable is designed as a cable in the form of a so-called bellows. Such a cable designed as a bellows exhibits the desired flexibility or mobility, both along its longitudinal direction and in the direction transverse to it.

[0030] In the invention, the telescopic line consists of several individual lines. The individual lines are rigid and have different diameters so that they can be plugged into one another to form the telescopic line for variable length. A seal can advantageously be arranged or attached between two individual lines to an outer individual line, which receives an inner individual line and is sealed against it by means of the seal. Such a seal can be an inserted sealing ring; alternatively, it can be attached or injection-molded to one of the two individual lines. A telescopic line preferably has exactly two, three, or four individual lines.

[0031] These and other features emerge not only from the claims but also from the description and the drawings. The individual features may be implemented individually or in combination in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and may represent advantageous and protectable embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The division of the application into individual sections and subheadings does not limit the generality of the statements made therein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated schematically in the drawings and explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1a front view of a washing machine as a water-conducting household appliance according to the invention, Fig. 2an inside view from the side of the washing machine Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a view from the front of the installation space under a tub of the washing machine with a bellows line at the drain from the tub, which leads to a telescopic line to the filter, Fig. 4 a simplified representation of the bellows line including adjustable telescopic line to the filter, Fig. 5 a sectional view of the transition of the telescopic line into a housing of the filter with an integrated drain valve designed as a check valve, Fig. 6 a further sectional view of the in Fig. 4 shown transition with a different sectional perspective, Fig. 7 a representation similar Fig. 5 with a slightly higher section and view of the drain valve, and Fig. 8 another illustration of the arrangement of the drain valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In the Fig. 1 A washing machine 11 according to the invention is shown in a front view as a water-conducting household appliance according to the invention in one embodiment of the invention. The washing machine 11 has a housing 12, on which a conventional drawer 18 is provided at the top left. This drawer 18 can be pulled out so that detergent, fabric softener and other cleaning agents or additives for a wash cycle can be added manually for each wash cycle. At the top right on a front side 16, the washing machine 11 has an advantageously conventionally designed operating device 22, by means of which an operator can control the wash cycle or make specifications. Furthermore, information can be displayed for the operator.

[0034] The aforementioned functional module 30 is located at the bottom right of the washing machine 11 and has a front panel 31 at the front. Similar to the prior art drawer 18, the front panel 31 can also be inserted flush and adjusted into the front panel 16. It has a handle or the like for pulling it out. A door 12' leading to a drum 15 is arranged above it.

[0035] In the side view of the washing machine 11 according to Fig. 2 It can be seen that behind the door 12' a drum holder 14 is provided as a water container with the rotatable drum 15 therein, wherein a conventional seal D is provided here. The drum 15 is driven by a drive motor 28. At the front near the door 12', on a seal for the drum 15, there is an injection nozzle 26 as the aforementioned nozzle or as a water outlet, which points or reaches into the drum 15. Such injection nozzles 26 are known from so-called recirculation washing machines. Through them, water, which is supplied via a recirculation line 54, can be applied to the drum holder 14 and, above all, to the laundry in the drum 15. However, this is known from the prior art and need not be explained further here.

[0036] The functional module 30 is arranged below the drum holder 14. A supply line 52 leads from the bottom of the drum holder 14, which serves as a water container, or from a drain 51 thereon, which can be designed as an opening or a short pipe socket, to the functional module 30. The functional module 30 has several functional units and is designed as a self-contained, manageable unit. As will be explained in several embodiments below, it can be moved, and in particular, can be moved out of the washing machine 11, either partially, largely, or even completely.

[0037] The functional module 30 includes a circulation pump 33, which can be considered a central component. If this circulation pump 33 can be removed with the functional module 30, it is accessible from the outside for repair and / or maintenance. The circulation pump 33 can be designed as previously described and as known from the prior art.

[0038] Furthermore, the functional module 30 has a pump valve 35. This pump valve 35 is advantageously arranged close to the circulation pump 33, possibly directly attached to it or even integrated into it as a component thereof. In addition to the pump valve 35, further valves or other parts or modules can be arranged in the functional module 30.

[0039] A filter 40 is connected upstream of the circulation pump 33. This is only shown schematically here as a filter, in detail it is shown in the Fig. 5 und 6 shown. Advantageously, a drain line in the form of the flexible line 52 leads into the functional module 30 and directly into the filter 40. The water filtered there is then passed on, for example, to the circulation pump 33.

[0040] Furthermore, the functional module 30 has an auxiliary module 45. This can be any of the aforementioned auxiliary modules, for example, for dosing detergent or other cleaning agents.

[0041] The functional module 30 also has a controller 48. This is shown here connected to a connecting cable 13. The controller 48 can either be intended solely for the functional module 30, in particular for the circulation pump 33 and the pump valve 35. However, it can also assume control tasks for the entire washing machine 11, possibly even for the operating device 22.

[0042] Furthermore, the controller 48 can also contain power electronics. It advantageously contains the power electronics for at least the circulation pump 33, possibly also for the drive motor 28 and the operating device 22. In an extreme embodiment of the invention, the controller 48 can perform all intelligence and all power electronics, as well as power conversion, for the washing machine 11 in the functional module 30. This is a suitable solution because the controller 48 is easily accessible in the event of repairs due to its arrangement in the removable functional module 30. The dashed line shows how the functional module 30 can be pulled out with the front panel 31. An extension is shown here at approximately 60%.

[0043] A fresh water line 58 leads from the rear into the washing machine 11 or its housing 12. It connects to the functional module 30, preferably directly and as shown here. The fresh water supply can be controlled internally, for example, via a valve similar to the pump valve 35, which is located in the functional module 30. Fluid lines or a fluid guide between the individual functional units within the functional module 30 are not shown here, but are easily conceivable.

[0044] In general, the functional module 30 is preferably arranged so low in the washing machine because then water or wash water can drain from the drum 15 or the drum holder 14 through at least part of the filter 40 by itself or automatically due to gravity. This is advantageous for water management and, above all, for a possible hygienic concept.

[0045] In the Fig. 3 is a view diagonally from the front into the washing machine 11 similar Fig. 1 und 2 shown. At the bottom of the drum holder 14, which has the seal D towards the front, there is a drain 51, advantageously simply in the form of an opening. Connected to this is a flexible line 52, which is designed like a bellows. This means that on the one hand it can carry water in a sealed manner, and on the other hand it can compensate for movements in all directions to a certain extent and adjust its length. The flexible line 52 is also designed such that when it is arranged upright at an angle of approximately 8° to the vertical as shown, no standing water can collect in it and no water reservoir can remain full. This is of great importance for the aforementioned desired hygienic conditions. Furthermore, this flexible line 52 can compensate for movements of the usually spring-mounted drum holder 14 with the drum 15 therein.At the same time, it's clear that it's relatively short, and at this shorter length, it offers greater flexibility and thus better usability than a hose, even if it's flexible. A coiled hose would have the disadvantage that, on the one hand, it can't have a large diameter and, on the other hand, water could potentially collect there.

[0046] The flexible cable 52 leads, as can be seen from the schematic diagram shown below, Fig. 4 as can be seen, to the rear end of a telescopic line 60. This runs approximately horizontally with a slight incline of approximately 1° to 5° away from the transition to the flexible line 52, so that it can drain automatically. This has proven to be important in the context of the invention for compliance with hygiene requirements. The flexible line 60 leads at the front at a right angle to a valve connection 71, in which the aforementioned drain valve 66 is arranged. At the same time, the valve connection 71 is the connection to the filter 40 including the filter housing 41 and the screw-on housing cover 42. This filter 40 can be fixedly arranged on the functional module 30 and can be pulled forward with it out of the housing 12 of the washing machine 11.

[0047] The schematic representation of the Fig. 4 shows how water from the drum holder 14 can flow smoothly through the flexible line 52 into the telescopic line 60. The telescopic line 60 consists of an outer tube 62 and an inner tube 64 mounted therein, thus being a two-part design. However, it could easily have more parts, for example, a total of three or four. This could allow for even greater extension when pulled out. The flexible line 52 is connected to the inner tube 64, as shown in the Fig. 4 This can be moved telescopically relative to the outer tube 62. Of course, the outer tube 62 and inner tube 64 are sealed against each other, for example, by means of a circumferential rubber seal.

[0048] The telescopic line 60 leads either in one piece or via a sealed connection to the aforementioned valve connection 71. This can either be molded onto the filter housing 41 or, advantageously, is removable as a type of flap. This has the advantage that, as the subsequent figures show, cleaning the drain valve 66 is then easier.

[0049] The Fig. 5 shows this in a section from the front, where it can be seen how the closed discharge valve 66 has an inclined valve flap 67. The valve flap 67 is movably mounted in the upper area with a flap axis 68, see also the Fig. 7 . In the Fig. 5 and 7 In the position shown, it lies sealingly against a just visible valve seat 70. It can be Fig. 5 When water flows in from the drain 51, the flexible line 52 and the telescopic line 60 fold to the right and upward, thus allowing the water to pass through. In the opposite direction, it acts as a sealed or closed check valve. Thus, the drain valve 66 is designed as an automatic check valve. Alternatively, it could also be designed with an electric drive, for example, an electric motor or electromagnetic drive. For an even better sealing effect, a soft plastic or rubber can be injection-molded onto the valve flap 67 and / or the valve seat 70 as a particularly effective seal. This is easy to implement, for example, as a multi-component injection molding process, and poses no problem.

[0050] For the filter 40, it is shown how an upper filter surface 44 and a lower filter surface 45 are provided in the filter housing 41. Wastewater flows through the drain valve 66 first onto the upper filter surface 44, which is therefore advantageously designed as a coarse filter. The water then flows downwards onto the lower filter surface 45, which is advantageously designed as a fine filter. The finely and thus very well filtered water can then exit the filter housing 41 to the right and rear, where it can then advantageously flow to the circulation pump 33.

[0051] The partially sectioned oblique view of the Fig. 6 shows how the drain valve 66 can be made accessible with a hinged design of the valve connection 71. This allows it to be cleaned of coarse contaminants, especially socks or the like.

[0052] A similar view is offered by the Fig. 7 This shows the flap axis 68 even more clearly, by means of which the valve flap 67 is rotatably mounted. The valve flap 67 already rests against the valve seat 70 due to the force of its weight alone. If the filter 40 is backwashed at the previously described rearward-facing end of the filter housing 41, water flows from the inside against the drain valve 66 or against the valve flap 67, and this closes as a classic function of a check valve, see also Fig. 4 This ensures that, when backwashing the filter 40, no contaminated water can enter the telescopic line 60 or even further toward the drum holder 14. Furthermore, a certain water pressure can be built up in the filter 40, allowing for particularly effective cleaning or backwashing of the filter 40 or the filter surfaces 44 and 45.

[0053] The sectional view of the Fig. 8shows again how accessibility of the drain valve 66 can be designed. As an alternative to opening the valve connection 71, the drain valve 66 can be cleaned from the inside after opening the housing cover 42 and possibly removing at least the upper filter surface 44.

Claims

1. Water-conducting household appliance (11), with: - a water container (14) with a treatment chamber (15) therein, the water container (14) having a drain (51) at the bottom, - a pump (33), - a filter (40) between the drain (51) and the pump (33), - a water supply with water pipes (52, 54, 58), valves (35, 66), the pump (33) and the filter (40), whereby - a flexible or bendable flexible line (52) connects to the drain (51) and runs downwards from the drain (51) at an angle between 15° and 0° to the vertical, characterized in that - a length-adjustable telescopic line (60) connects to the flexible line (52) and leads to the filter (40), the telescopic line (60) running at an angle of between 0° and 20° to the horizontal, - a drain valve (66) is arranged between the telescopic line (60) and the filter (40), - the filter (40) is arranged downstream of the drain valve (66), - the telescopic line (60) is designed to comprise a plurality of individual lines (62, 64), - the individual lines (62, 64) are designed to be rigid in themselves and have different diameters in order to form the telescopic line (60) when inserted into one another, for the purpose of changing its length.

2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the drain valve (66) is arranged between the telescopic line (60) and the filter (40) in such a way that, after the telescopic line (60) has been released from the filter (40), the drain valve (66) is accessible from the outside, in particular for cleaning, repair and / or replacement.

3. Household appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the drain valve (66) or at least one valve seat (70) of the drain valve (66) is arranged at the end of the telescopic line (60) towards the filter (40).

4. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the telescopic line (60), the drain valve (66), the filter (40) and the pump (33) are arranged in a function module (30) which is designed as a self-contained, movable unit and is arranged in the lower region of the water-conducting household appliance (11), below the water container (14) and the treatment chamber (15), wherein the flexible line (52) is preferably connected to one end of the telescopic line (60), wherein this end of the telescopic line (60) remains largely unmoved when the function module (30) is moved and the length of the telescopic line (60) changes.

5. Household appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the function module (30) can be moved forwards out of the household appliance (11), can preferably be moved horizontally, in particular can be pulled out on a rail guide, the function module (30) being mounted with the rail guide in the household appliance (11), preferably at least 50% of the function module (30) can be pulled out in a pulling direction.

6. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drain valve (66) is provided in a separate valve subassembly (71) which can be independently installed and removed and is arranged between the telescopic line (60) and the filter (40), wherein preferably the valve subassembly (71) is not visible from the outside when the telescopic line (60) is connected to the filter (40).

7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drain valve (66) is designed as a force-loaded, self-closing non-return valve and has a closing body (67) which, for a closed position, is pressed by means of a force against a valve seat (70) in a direction counter to a water flow out of the treatment chamber (15) and out of the telescopic line (60) into the filter (40).

8. Household appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing body (67) is spring-loaded in the closed position, preferably by a resiliently designed bearing device for the closing body (67).

9. Household appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the non-return valve (66) has a valve flap (67) as closing body, a pivot axis or rotating shaft (68) of the valve flap (67) is arranged above the valve flap (67), in particular the entire valve flap (67) being arranged thereunder, preferably the valve flap (67) and / or the valve seat (70) extending in a plane which extends at an angle between 10° and 45° to the vertical.

10. Household appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that in the closed position the non-return valve (66) is designed and mounted with the closing body (67) such that the closing body (67) is pressed against the valve seat (70) solely due to the force of gravity in order to close the non-return valve (66).

11. Household appliance according to one of the claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the closing body or the valve flap (67) is rounded, preferably circular.

12. Household appliance according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outlet valve is a driven valve with an actuator, preferably the actuator being designed as an electric motor or as an electromagnet, the outlet valve having a valve flap, which can be moved by the actuator, and a valve seat.

13. Household appliance according to one of the claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the valve flap (67) and / or the valve seat (70) are / is of elastic design, in particular by shaping and / or choice of material.

14. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible line (52) is designed as a line in the form of a bellows.

15. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal between two individual lines (62, 64) is arranged or fastened on an outer individual line (62), receives an inner individual line (64) and is sealed with respect to the latter by means of the seal.

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