Method and device for wet treatment, in particular washing and / or spin drying, of laundry batches of several items of laundry

Abstract

In commercial laundries, wet processing of laundry is carried out using batches of numerous items. A rotating drum (11) is loaded with all the items in the batch at once. The items are placed in the drum (11) as a loose mass, thus occupying a considerable amount of space. This negatively impacts the efficiency of the wet processing. The invention provides for loading the drum (11) in several stages. The batch of laundry is divided into sub-batches, which are loaded into the drum (11) successively. In particular, between successive sub-batches, the drum (11) is driven at a speed corresponding to the spin speed and / or liquid is supplied to the sub-batches during loading. This compacts the individual sub-batches, creating space for the next sub-batch.This allows the drum (11) to be loaded with larger, heavier loads of laundry. This results in more economical wet washing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for wet-treating, in particular washing and / or spinning, batches of laundry comprising a plurality of items of laundry according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for wet-treating, in particular washing and / or spinning, batches of laundry comprising a plurality of items of laundry according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0002] The wet treatment of laundry takes place batch by batch, particularly in commercial laundries. One batch of laundry from a large number of items is wet-treated in a rotating drum. The wet treatment is carried out in laundry machines that are used solely for washing or for washing and subsequent spinning. These are preferably washing machines or washer-extractors that wash the respective laundry in the drum and, if necessary, subsequently spin it, thereby partially, or especially largely, separating the laundry from any liquid bound in the laundry.

[0003] In conventional methods for the batch-by-batch wet treatment of laundry, the drum of the washing machine or washer-extractor is loaded simultaneously with all laundry items in the batch. All laundry items in the batch enter the drum in a relatively loose pile. This limits the number of items per batch and / or the amount of laundry per batch. This impairs the cost-effectiveness of the wet treatment.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating a method and a device for economical wet treatment, in particular batch-wise washing and / or spinning, of laundry.

[0005] A method for achieving this objective comprises the measures of claim 1. This method provides for loading the drum with the respective laundry load in sub-loads. This allows loading to be carried out gradually, in stages, and / or in phases, with successive sub-loads. Depending on requirements, the respective laundry load can be divided into two or more sub-loads, with all sub-loads together resulting in a laundry load corresponding to the desired laundry load. All laundry items of the respective laundry load are washed and / or spun simultaneously in the drum. This allows the last-loaded sub-load to "settle," preferably reducing its volume, before the next sub-load is added.

[0006] It is further provided that the volume of the laundry items of the respective partial batch is reduced, at least between successive partial batches, and if necessary also after the last partial batch, preferably by rotating the drum. This can occur between the loading of the drum with successive partial batches, but also alternatively or additionally during the loading of the drum with the respective partial batch. This rotating drive of the drum exerts a centrifugal force on the laundry items of the respective partial batch, which causes the laundry items, in particular the last item loaded into the drum, to be distributed in a ring-like manner on the inside of the circumference of the drum. The laundry items forming the laundry ring are preferably also pressed together, compressed and / or compacted when the drum is rotated.This reduces the volume of the item already in the drum, the last item loaded into the drum, and / or all items already in the drum, thus creating space for loading the drum with another item. Preferably, sufficient space is created in the center of the drum for the next item of laundry.

[0007] The method according to the invention makes it possible to load the drum with larger laundry items, in particular laundry items with a larger number of laundry items and / or larger quantity of laundry compared to the previously usual load.

[0008] Preferably, the method is designed such that the drum is loaded with the respective sub-items while the drum's rotation axis is upright, preferably vertical or substantially vertical. During this loading, the drum opening is at the top, preferably at the highest point of the drum.

[0009] It is conceivable that the drum is loaded with the respective sub-batch while the drum is rotating. This ensures that the laundry items of the respective sub-batch are at least initially compressed during loading, in particular pressed against the inside of the drum's outer surface and / or distributed thereon to form a laundry ring.

[0010] If the drum is rotated around its axis of rotation, preferably vertically, when loading the respective sub-batch, the rotational speed can be such that a centrifugal force of between 2 and 6 times the acceleration due to gravity (g) is exerted on the laundry items. This exerts no or only a slight spinning effect on the laundry items of the sub-batch in the drum or the sub-batches in the drum.

[0011] An advantageous option for developing the method provides for the drum to be driven in rotation, preferably at a higher speed than during loading, after at least one phase or step of loading the drum with a respective sub-batch, in particular the loading of the next sub-batch, in a spinning manner. This results in the compression of at least one sub-batch already in the drum. In particular, the sub-batch last loaded into the drum is compressed and / or pressed together. In the following, the phase or step of driving the drum after each loading of a sub-batch, in particular between successive loadings of sub-batches, is referred to as the "compaction phase" after the spinning process, and the loading of the drum with at least one sub-batch is referred to as the "partial loading phase."

[0012] Preferably, during the compaction phase, the drum is driven at a speed at which a centrifugal force of between 25 and 70 times the acceleration due to gravity (g) is exerted on the laundry items already in the drum. Such a drum speed, which is significantly higher than the speed of the drum that may be driven in rotation during the partial loading phase, leads to a reliable formation of a laundry ring on the inside of the preferably cylindrical outer surface of the drum and, at the same time, a strong squeezing, compression, and / or compaction of the laundry items in the laundry ring.

[0013] According to a further possible embodiment of the method, after loading with a respective partial batch, the drum is pivoted from its loading position, in which its axis of rotation runs upright, in particular vertical, into a position in which the axis of rotation runs obliquely to the vertical, preferably at an angle of 30° to 50°. In the pivoted, oblique position, the drum is then driven to rotate in the compaction phase, preferably at a significantly higher speed than in the partial loading phase. Due to the oblique position of the drum's axis of rotation, at least initially, items of laundry become detached in the upper turning area of ​​the drum and the detached items fall down to a lower area of ​​the drum. This leads to a more even and better ring-like distribution of the laundry items around the circumference of the drum.

[0014] It is preferred if, at least during the compaction phase and / or partial load phase, and preferably only during the compaction phase, liquid is supplied to the drum, preferably through the opening in the drum. This causes the laundry items to be washed into the drum. The laundry items are moistened or made moister by the supplied liquid. In particular when the drum is tilted or inclined, liquids not yet absorbed by the laundry items collect at the lowest point of the inclined drum during the compaction phase, into which items of laundry not yet distributed over the circumference of the drum immerse themselves and / or fall, thereby absorbing moisture and becoming heavier. The force with which the laundry items are pressed against the inside of the drum's outer surface when the drum is rotated during the compaction phase increases as a result.

[0015] Finally, it is conceivable to further develop the method such that, at least during the rotating drive of the drum between successive phases of loading with partial loads, namely the compaction phase, the behavior of the laundry items in the drum is monitored. This monitoring is preferably carried out to determine whether the last partial load loaded into the drum has already assumed a ring-shaped configuration distributed over the inside of the outer surface. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to determine the thickness of the laundry ring of all partial loads loaded into the drum so far and / or the increase in the thickness of the laundry ring as a result of the last partial load loaded into the drum. This can be done optically, by ultrasound, or by markings on the bottom of the drum.In particular, this allows you to determine how far the laundry ring has developed and how much the laundry has been compressed, and accordingly influence and / or control the time for the faster rotation of the drum during the compression phase. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to compare the results of this monitoring with target values ​​and terminate the respective compression phase if deviations from the target value occur.

[0016] A device for achieving the aforementioned object has the features of claim 8. This device provides for an opening in the housing or drum to be assigned annularly arranged liquid outlet openings that generate liquid jets. This creates a kind of "flooding ring" at the opening in the housing of the drum and / or the drum itself.

[0017] The umbrella-like liquid jets generated by the flushing ring are distributed around the edge of the drum opening and / or its housing and directed through the drum opening into the interior. This preferably allows the laundry to be effectively flushed into the drum when loading the drum and / or to moisten the laundry or make already damp laundry even moister. Such a device is preferably suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0018] Preferably, the annularly arranged liquid outlet openings are arranged in a wall of an annular tube, and this annular tube is arranged inside the circumference of the housing opening. This housing opening corresponds to the opening of the rotatably driven drums for receiving the laundry. The liquid outlet openings of the annular tube can generate liquid jets that are directed through the drum opening into the interior of the drum.

[0019] An advantageous further development of the device provides for the liquid outlet openings of the ring-like tube to be arranged in a wall thereof in such a way that all liquid jets emerging from the liquid openings can pass through the opening into the drum and / or converge in an umbrella-like manner towards a wall opposite the opening in the drum, in particular the bottom wall thereof.

[0020] Preferably, all liquid outlet openings of the annular tube are designed and arranged in such a way that all liquid jets meet at the lowest point of the drum. This leads to effective moistening of the laundry items when loading the drum and / or of the laundry items already in the drum.

[0021] The device can have at least one protective body, preferably a circumferential protective ring, between the ring-shaped tube in the opening of the housing and the drum, preferably an edge surrounding the opening of the drum. This protective ring prevents, on the one hand, especially smaller items of laundry from getting caught between the drum and the stationary housing surrounding it on the outside. On the other hand, the protective body serves to prevent, particularly when the drum is rotating rapidly, possible contact between the edge of the drum opening and the ring-shaped tube assigned to the opening of the housing, in order to protect the ring-shaped tube and the edge of the drum opening. For this purpose, it can preferably be provided that the protective body is made of a non-metallic material, for example plastic, in particular a plastic with good lubrication.

[0022] It is also conceivable to further develop the device in such a way that it has means designed to determine the degree of compaction and / or the weight of the laundry already in the drum. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for these means to be designed to determine the thickness of the respective laundry ring in the drum. The aforementioned measuring and / or detection methods are preferably designed to operate without contact.

[0023] By determining the degree of compaction, for example, the thickness of the laundry ring or its weight, it is possible to determine whether the last load of laundry loaded into the drum has already assumed the desired ring shape and / or is compressed to the intended extent during the compaction phase. This allows for continuous monitoring of whether the loading process is proceeding correctly and whether there is still enough space in the drum to load additional sub-loads, especially a final sub-load to complete the laundry batch to be wet-treated.

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1a partially sectioned side view of a device in a partial loading phase, Fig. 2a front view of the device of the Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a partially sectioned side view of the device in a compaction phase, Fig. 4 a front view of the device of the Fig. 3 , Fig. 5 a partially sectioned side view of the device in a discharge phase, Fig. 6 a front view of the device of the Fig. 5 , Fig. 7 a central longitudinal section through a drum and a front wall of a housing of the device according to the Fig. 1 , and Fig. 8 an enlarged detail VIII from the representation of the Fig. 7 .

[0025] With the device shown in the figures, laundry items can be wet-treated by washing and subsequent spinning. However, the invention is also suitable for devices in which the laundry items are wet-treated only by washing. Spinning can then, if necessary, take place in a separate device. Devices that allow washing and subsequent spinning of the laundry items are referred to in technical jargon as "washer-extractors." Such devices that serve only to wash the laundry items are usually referred to as "washing machines."

[0026] The laundry items can be all types of laundry, such as bed linen and table linen, dry linen such as terry towels, or fitted items such as clothing, including workwear.

[0027] The laundry items are wet-treated batch by batch using the wet-treatment device, namely washed and spun or just washed.

[0028] The device shown has a drum 11 which can be driven to rotate about a rotational axis 10, a fixed housing 12 which surrounds at least the drum 11 and a partially shown drive 13 for driving the drum 11 to rotate about its rotational axis 10.

[0029] The drum 11 has a completely or at least predominantly cylindrical drum shell 14, a bottom wall 15, and a circular end wall 16. The circular end wall 16 surrounds the preferably circular opening 17 of the drum 11. The drum 11 is provided with connections (not shown) for supplying liquid used for wet treatment, for bath changes, and for removing bound liquor removed from the laundry items during spinning.

[0030] The drum 11 is surrounded by a stationary housing 12 in a liquid-tight manner. The housing 12 is dimensioned such that the drum 11 can rotate freely therein. The housing 12 can be cylindrical, like the drum 11, but can also be cuboidal in shape, unlike the drum 11. The housing 12 is fixed to the drum 11 in such a way that it does not rotate with the drum 11 when the drum 11 is driven in rotation. The housing 12 has a casing 18 surrounding the drum 11, a bottom wall 19, and an end wall 20. The end wall 20 is circular in shape, surrounding an opening 21 in the housing 12. The opening 21 corresponds to the opening 17 of the drum 11, wherein the diameter of the opening 21 can be slightly larger than the diameter of the opening 17 ( Fig. 8 ). The opening 21 of the housing 12 is located directly in front of the opening 17 of the drum 11. One of the openings 17 or 21, preferably the opening 21 of the housing 12, can be closed by, for example, a pivotable cover 22 ( Fig. 2 and 4 ).

[0031] The drum 11 and the housing 12 can be pivoted together about a horizontal pivot axis 23 intersecting the rotation axis 10 at right angles. Fig. 1 and 2 show the drum 11 with the housing 12 in a loading position of the device. The rotation axis 10 is vertical and the upper openings 17 and 21 are in a horizontal plane when the cover 22 is opened. Fig. 3 and 4show the device in a flushing position, in which the compaction phase is preferably also carried out, at least for the most part. In this position and / or phase, the drum 11 with the housing 12 are pivoted sideways about the pivot axis 23 by 30° to 50° relative to the loading position. Accordingly, the rotation axis 10 is inclined by 30° to 50° relative to the vertical. Likewise, the openings 17 and 21 are inclined with the cover 22 still open, so that they lie in a plane pivoted by 30° to 50° relative to the horizontal.

[0032] The Fig. 5 and 6 show the unloading position of the drum 11 and the housing 12. In this unloading position, the rotational axis 10 of the drum 11 runs horizontally. However, the rotational axis 10 can also run slightly inclined downwards relative to the horizontal in the direction of the openings 17 and 21. In the device shown here, Fig. 5 and 6In the unloading position shown, the washing and spinning of the laundry also takes place with the opening 21 of the housing 12 closed liquid-tight by the cover 22. The cover 22 is only opened again when the laundry is unloaded. It is also conceivable to wash and / or spin the laundry in a different position, preferably the washing position or at an inclination between the Fig. 3 shown in the wash-in position and the one in the Fig. 5 shown unloading position.

[0033] According to the Fig. 7 und 8 An annular tube 24 is assigned to the opening 21 of the end wall 20 of the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, this tube has a square cross-section. However, it can also have other cross-sections, for example a triangular or a round cross-section. The annular tube 24 is assigned to a circumferential surface 25 of the end wall 20 of the housing 12, which circumferential surface delimits the opening, and in particular is firmly connected thereto. An inner, cylindrical surface of the annular tube 24 is provided with a plurality of liquid outlet openings 26 evenly distributed around its circumference. These are directed such that liquid jets 27 emerge therefrom and can flow through the opening 17 in the end wall 16 of the drum 11. A liquid jet 27 is shown in dot-dashed lines in the Fig. 8 In addition, all liquid jets 27 emerging from the liquid outlet openings 26 of the ring-shaped tube 24 are directed towards the rotation axis 10, in such a way that they converge towards the bottom wall 15 ( Fig. 3 and 4 ). Fig. 3 shows that in the inclined inflow position, the liquid jets 27 converge toward a corner between the bottom wall 15 and the casing 14, at a certain distance from the aforementioned corner. The liquid jets 27 can meet, but can also only decrease in distance from each other without touching.

[0034] The Fig. 8 It can also be seen that a gap 28 between the end wall 16 of the drum and the ring-like tube 24 surrounding the opening 21 in the end wall 20 of the housing 12 is arranged a protective body, which in the embodiment shown is designed as a protective ring 29. The protective ring 29 is in the embodiment of the Fig. 8 with a rectangular cross-section. This protective ring 29 virtually closes the gap 28 between the annular tube 24 on the end wall 20 of the housing 17 and the rotatably driven drum 11. This is achieved by a truncated cone-shaped ring 30 of the end wall 16 of the drum 11 surrounding the opening 17 of the drum 11, the circular peripheral edge 31 of which faces furthest toward the protective ring 29 ending at a short distance of a few millimeters from the circular surface 32 of the protective ring 29 facing this edge 31 ( Fig. 8 ). The protective ring 29 is made of a non-metallic material. This is a material that wears more easily than steel, especially stainless steel, from which the drum 11 and the ring 30 are formed. Preferably, the protective ring 29 thus serves as a wear part, protecting the edge 31 of the frustoconical ring 30 of the drum 11 primarily against wear.

[0035] The method according to the invention is explained below with reference to the device described above: The device, namely a washing machine or washer-extractor, is used for the batch-wise wet treatment of laundry items. Each batch of laundry from a plurality of laundry items to be wet-treated in one process in the device is placed, for example, in laundry bags 33 ( Fig. 2 ) to the device.

[0036] According to the invention, the device, namely the washing machine or washer-extractor, is not loaded with the entire batch of laundry at once, but rather the loading is carried out gradually, step by step or in phases. This can involve two or more than two partial batches. In the case of laundry items that take up a lot of space, in particular lighter ones, the laundry batch is divided, for example, into more than two partial batches, which together make up the entire laundry batch, preferably the laundry batch conveyed in a laundry bag 33. The individual partial batches can be of equal size, have the same amount of laundry and / or have the same weight. However, it is also conceivable to form laundry batches of different sizes, amounts of laundry and / or weights, wherein the first partial batches loaded into the drum 11 are preferably larger than the last partial batches.

[0037] By loading the drum 11 in successive partial batches, which together make up the laundry batch, the laundry items of each partial batch are given the opportunity to settle in the drum 11 between the loading of successive partial batches, i.e. to reduce their volume, thereby creating space again or at least more space for loading with the next partial batch.

[0038] Preferably, during loading of the drum 11, the drum is driven to rotate at a relatively low speed, for example, the washing speed, which results in forces and / or an acceleration of 2g to 6g, in particular 3g to 6g, being exerted on the laundry items in the drum 11. This promotes the settling of the laundry items of the respective sub-batch. In particular, this results in a squeezing, compacting, and / or a reduction in volume of the laundry items of the respective sub-batch. For the sake of simplicity, the laundry items will be referred to below only as "compacting" and / or "reducing in volume."

[0039] It is conceivable that a pause, particularly a loading pause, is inserted between the loading of drum 11 with successive partial loads, during which drum 11 continues to rotate, preferably at the same speed. This pause can be short, for example, only 10 to 30 seconds. This increases the compaction or volume reduction of the laundry items in drum 11.

[0040] The Fig. 1 and 2show the drum 11 in its loading position with the rotation axis 10 vertical or substantially vertical. The superimposed openings 17 and 21 of the drum 11 and the housing 12 are located congruently one above the other in parallel horizontal planes. This allows the laundry items of the respective sub-batch to be loaded into the drum 11 batch by batch from the laundry bag 33 located above it, due to gravity. In this loading position, the drum 11 may also be driven to rotate about the vertical rotation axis 10 at a speed that results in the laundry items in the drum 11 being subjected to 2 to 6 times, preferably 3 to 6 times, the acceleration of gravity (g).

[0041] The Fig. 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which between the loading of the drum 11 with successive partial batches in the order shown in the Fig. 1 and 2shown loading position, namely the respective partial loading phase, the drum 11 is pivoted about its horizontal pivot axis 23. This pivoting preferably takes place at 30° to 50°, in particular 45°. The drum 11 with the laundry of one or more partial batches already located therein is driven in this inclined position in a compaction phase at a higher speed than in the partial loading phase, in which individual partial batches are gradually loaded into the drum 11 in the loading position. This speed is selected such that the laundry items already located in the drum 11 are subjected to 20 to 70 times the acceleration of gravity, i.e. 30g to 70g. As a result, the laundry items in the drum 11 are more strongly compacted and their volume is significantly reduced.Primarily or especially for this reason, when the drum 11 is driven by a rotating drive about its inclined axis of rotation 10 at increased speed, whereby 5g to 70g, preferably 30g to 70g, act on the laundry items, a laundry ring forms in the drum 11, with the laundry being deposited evenly in a ring-like manner on the entire inner circumference of the casing 14 of the drum 11 due to centrifugal force. If one or more partial loads have already been loaded into the drum 11 and have already formed a laundry ring during the compaction phase, the partial load last loaded into the drum 11 is deposited as an additional laundry ring on the inside of the laundry ring already present in the drum 11 and / or preferably merges with it. In addition, space and / or a sufficiently large free space is created in the central area, in particular a central and / or inner area, of the drum 11 for the next laundry batch.

[0042] It is particularly advantageous if before and / or during the Fig. 3 and 4 During the compression phase of the respective sub-batch shown, liquid is added to the laundry items in the drum 11. This can be fresh water with or without detergent additives, but also reused wash water from previous wash cycles or liquid separated from the laundry during spinning, in particular rinsing liquid.

[0043] The mentioned liquid supply to the laundry items when in the Fig. 3 and 4The washing-in position shown with the drum 11 tilted results in the laundry items becoming more supple and heavier and thus compacting better, in particular more reliably forming a complete laundry ring on the preferably cylindrical casing 14 of the drum 11. The faster rotating drive of the drum 11 in the washing-in position with the simultaneous supply of liquid with the drum tilted therefore represents a compaction phase.

[0044] The liquid supply to the drum 11 and / or the laundry items contained therein of one or more or, if appropriate, all sub-batches is effected by a plurality of liquid jets 27 generated by liquid outlet openings 26 of the annular tube 24 surrounding the opening 21 of the end wall 20 of the housing 12. A uniform distribution of the liquid outlet openings 26, which may optionally be nozzle-like, on the inner circumferential surface 25 of the annular tube 24 creates a funnel-shaped or umbrella-like pattern of all liquid jets 27.

[0045] In the device shown in the figures, the liquid outlet openings 26 in the circumferential surface 25 of the annular tube 24 are aligned such that all liquid jets 27 generated by the liquid outlet openings 26 converge into the interior of the drum 11. Due to the inclined position of the drum 11 in its flushing position and in the compaction phase, all liquid jets 27 preferably converge such that they meet shortly before the lowest point of the inclined drum 11 or are located close to one another. This lowest point preferably originates from a point at which the casing 14 and the bottom wall 15 meet at the bottom of the drum 11 ( Fig. 3 ).

[0046] If, after the last batch loaded into the drum 11 has been flushed into the Fig. 3 and 4If at least one further partial item is to be loaded into the drum 11 after the compression phase shown, after completion of the compression phase, i.e. after formation of a laundry ring from the laundry items last loaded into the drum 11, preferably together with the washing liquid, the drum 11 is swung back into the position shown in the Fig. 1 and 2 The loading position shown is approximately vertical with the rotation axis 10. Then the next partial loading phase takes place with another partial batch or the last partial batch. The drum 11 is then returned to the position shown in the Fig. 3 and 4 shown inlet position to carry out the compaction phase.

[0047] After loading the last partial batch, i.e. when the entire batch of laundry is loaded into the drum 11, it is conceivable to skip the flushing position with the compaction phase and to move the drum immediately from the loading position with the rotation axis 10 vertical into the Fig. 5 and 6 shown washing position with approximately horizontal rotation axis 10 to pivot about the pivot axis 23.

[0048] In the case of washer-extractors, the washing position may also be used to spin the laundry after washing.

[0049] Likewise, in the Fig. 5 and 6 In the washing position or washing and spinning position shown, the unloading of wet-treated laundry items, i.e. washed or washed and spun, of the respective laundry batch also takes place. For this purpose, the drum 11 is pivoted into the position shown in the Fig. 5 and 6to reopen the cover 22 of the housing 12 closed in the horizontal position shown. Bezugszeichenliste:

[0050] 10Rotation axis 11Drum 12Housing 13Drive 14Shell 15Bottom wall 16End wall 17Opening 18Shell 19Bottom wall 20End wall 21Opening 22Cover 23Pivot axis 24Annular tube 25Circumferential surface 26Liquid outlet opening 27Liquid jet 28Gap 29Protective ring 30Ring 31Edge 32Annular surface 33Laundry bag

Claims

1. A method for wet-treating, in particular washing and / or spinning, batches of laundry comprising a plurality of items of laundry, wherein the items of laundry of the respective batch of laundry are loaded into a rotating drum (11), the laundry batch is washed with the rotating drum (11), optionally spun thereafter, and after washing and / or spinning, is unloaded from the drum (11), characterized in that the loading of the drum (11) with the respective laundry item in partial items takes place step by step, wherein the drum (11) is driven in rotation during loading with the respective partial item and / or between loading with successive partial items.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe loading of the drum (11) with the respective partial item takes place with the axis of rotation (10) of the drum (11) upright, preferably vertical, and the opening (17) of the drum (11) at the top and / or the drum (11) driven in rotation, preferably at a speed at which forces, preferably centrifugal forces, of between 2 and 6 times the acceleration due to gravity are exerted on the items of laundry in the drum (11).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe drum (11) is driven in rotation after loading with a respective partial batch in the manner of a spinning process and / or at a higher speed, preferably in the manner of a spinning process, than during loading, preferably at a speed such that the partial batch loaded last into the drum (11) is transformed into a laundry ring and / or is applied in a ring-like manner to the inside of a casing (14) of the drum (11) or to at least one partial batch previously loaded into the drum (11).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drum (11) is driven at such a higher speed after loading with a partial item that forces, in particular centrifugal forces, preferably in the manner of a spinning process, between 5 times to 70 times, preferably 20 times to 60 times, the acceleration due to gravity act on the laundry items in the drum (11).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after loading the drum (11) with a respective partial batch, the drum (11) is pivoted from its loading position, in which the axis of rotation (10) of the drum (11) preferably runs vertically, into a position in which the axis of rotation (10) runs obliquely to the vertical, preferably at an angle of 30° to 50°, and in this oblique position the drum (11) is driven in the manner of the spinning process.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the drum (11) is loaded with a respective partial item and / or after the drum (11) is loaded with the respective partial item, preferably when the drum (11) is driven at a higher speed in the manner of a spinning process, liquid is supplied to the laundry items in the drum (11) and / or upon entry into the drum (11).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least during the rotating drive of the drum (11) between successive loadings of the drum (11) with partial items, the behavior and / or the position of the laundry items in the drum (11) are monitored, preferably in such a way as to determine whether the partial item last loaded into the drum (11) has assumed a ring-like shape and / or whether the thickness of the ring-like shape of the partial item or of all partial items loaded into the drum is determined.

8. Device for wet treatment, in particular washing and / or spinning, of laundry batches of several items of laundry with a rotating drum (11) which serves at least for washing the respective laundry batch and which has an opening (17) for loading and / or unloading the laundry items, and a housing (12) with an opening (21) corresponding to the opening (17) of the drum (11), characterized in thatthe opening (21) of the housing (12) and / or the opening (17) of the drum (11) are assigned liquid outlet openings (26) which generate liquid jets (27) arranged in a ring-like manner.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the annularly arranged liquid outlet openings (26) are assigned to an annular tube (24) in the annular opening (17, 21), wherein the annular tube (24) is preferably fastened to a wall of the drum (11) and / or the housing (12) surrounding the opening (17, 21).

10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in thatthe liquid outlet openings (26) are arranged in a wall of the annular tube (24) so ​​as to be evenly distributed over the circumference thereof in such a way that all liquid jets (27) emerging from the liquid outlet openings (26) run through the opening (17) in the drum (11) and / or can pass through the opening (17) and / or converge in an umbrella-like manner towards a wall of the drum (11) opposite the opening (17) in the drum, wherein preferably all liquid jets (27) meet in front of a lowest point of the drum (11).

11. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that at least one protective body, in particular a protective ring (29), is arranged between the ring-like tube (24) in the opening (21) of the housing (12) and the drum (11), preferably an edge thereof surrounding the opening (17) in the drum (11).

12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in thatMeans are provided to determine the degree of compaction and / or the weight and / or the thickness of the laundry ring of the laundry items located in the drum (11), preferably after loading the drum (11) with the respective partial item and / or when spinning the partial item or items located in the drum (11) at a higher speed than during loading.

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