Laundry treatment appliance with process air generator

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry treatment device (1) with the following features: - a housing (2); - a cylindrical tub (4); - a cylindrical drum (3) rotatably mounted in the tub (4) with a horizontal or inclined axis (33), designed to hold laundry; - a fan module (13) mounted in the housing (2) above the tub (4); - a fan (9) for conveying process air (PL) through the channel section (8); - a filter element (100) provided in the channel section (8a) or in the second pipe (96), preferably in the area of ​​the channel inlet. The laundry treatment device includes a filter element (100) designed as a flat body made of filter medium (101) and displaceable at an angle of 5° to 45°, preferably 7° to 30°, in the direction of flow of the channel section (8a).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance with the following features: a housing; a cylindrical tub; a cylindrical drum which is rotatably mounted in the tub with a horizontal or inclined axis and is designed to hold laundry; wherein the drum has openings or perforations in its front rear wall to allow an air flow from the tub through the drum; wherein the tub has an air inlet and an air outlet; an inlet device for letting washing liquid into the tub; a drain device for draining the washing liquid from the tub; a process air module which is mounted in the housing above the tub, with a module housing, comprising a duct section, a fan for generating orConveying process air through the duct section and the drum; a first pipe for connecting the duct section to the air inlet of the lye container and a second pipe for connecting the duct section to the air outlet of the lye container and a filter element which is arranged in the duct section or in the second pipe; a control device which is configured and programmed to activate and deactivate the actuators, i.e. the motor for rotating the drum, the inlet device and the outlet device, in order to carry out a treatment program.

[0002] EP 2 843 103 A1 discloses a washer-dryer with a heat pump module for generating the drying air. The heat pump module is located above the tub and includes a fan for generating a process air flow that flows through the drum to dry the laundry items in the drum. The heat pump module includes a filter element in the duct section at the air inlet to the module. The filter element consists of two screens arranged transversely to the flow direction and parallel to the cross section of the duct section, respectively.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a compact laundry treatment machine with a suds container and process air generator with an improved filter for cleaning the process air.

[0004] According to the invention, this object is achieved, among other things, by a laundry treatment appliance having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

[0005] The approach presented here creates a compact laundry treatment appliance in a simple manner, which is equipped with a process air generator for generating the process air. In addition to the washing components, the process air generator is housed in a so-called standard housing. This is achieved by placing the process air module in the free space above and to the side of the tub. The duct section is designed as a flat, wide box, in which the heat exchangers of suitable dimensions are preferably housed. Furthermore, the air inlet in the tub is preferably in the lower area of ​​the rear end wall, and the air outlet in or on the tub is arranged in the front, middle upper area of ​​the front end wall.The air outlet can also be incorporated into a bellows, which forms a tubular connecting duct from the loading opening in the front wall to the front loading opening in the drum or the tub. The bellows can therefore be assigned to the tub with regard to the process air flow. The flat box forming the duct section is located between the air inlet and air outlet and is aligned approximately horizontally, meaning the wide sides are horizontal and the narrow sides are aligned approximately vertically. All position and direction specifications refer to the correct operating position of the device.

[0006] Furthermore, the process air module or the supply pipe comprises a filter element, which is provided in the duct section in the direction of flow upstream of the box-shaped duct section or in the duct section. The filter element is removably positioned in the front part of said duct section. The filter element serves to free the process air of lint before it reaches the duct section with the heat exchangers preferably located therein. So that the filter element or the filter medium of the filter element can be cleaned, it is removably positioned or arranged in the duct section or in the pipe section upstream of the duct section. The filter element can be removed from the duct section or the pipe through a housing opening and can be inserted and accessed. The filter medium inserted in the filter element, for example a fleece mat, gauze or sieve, can then be freed of lint or adhesions.According to the invention, the filter element is designed as a flat body with a filter medium and arranged obliquely at an angle in the range of 5° to 45°, preferably 7° to 30°, in the direction of flow of the channel section. Furthermore, the filter element is slidably inserted into the pipe section, wherein the housing or a panel on the housing comprises an access opening to the channel section or pipe, and the channel section or the pipe comprises an access opening for the filter element that can be closed with a lid, wherein the channel section has guide means that are positioned at an angle or sloping inwards in order to guide the filter element obliquely into the channel section. As a result, the filter element, which is positioned at an angle in the channel, can be easily inserted or removed using a small access opening.

[0007] The control unit is configured or programmed in such a way that the process air generator or fan is activated when a drying program starts. The fan is activated for a predetermined duration so that the damp laundry is exposed to a stream of process air. This loosens lint from the fabric of the laundry and transports it to the duct or duct section. The filter element placed upstream of the duct section separates the lint and particles present in the process air stream.

[0008] In a further, overall expedient embodiment, the filter element has a length extending in the flow direction with a value in the range of 5 cm to 30 cm, preferably 10 to 20 cm, and comprises a width in the range of 5 cm to 35 cm, preferably 7 cm to 25 cm, particularly preferably 10 cm to 20 cm. The width is the dimension for the extension transverse to the flow direction. The thickness of the filter element preferably has a value in the range of 0.1 cm to 2 cm, preferably 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.

[0009] The filter element can be constructed in multiple layers, with at least one support layer, a fine filter layer made of nonwoven fabric or open-pore foam or a multi-layer fabric applied to the support layer, and a layer of gauze or sieve-like fabric applied to the fine filter layer. The fine filter layer preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.3 cm to 3 cm, preferably 0.5 cm to 2 cm. This allows for very good separation of fine lint with a fine, open-pore design, while maintaining a very good air throughput with a flow loss in the range of 1% to 5%.

[0010] In an overall expedient embodiment, the guide means are each designed as a rail or web, which are each arranged at an angle with a value in the range of 2° to 25, preferably 5° to 20°, more preferably 7° to 15°, on the respective inner side of the opposite, lateral channel walls.

[0011] In a practical embodiment, the duct section in which the filter element is accommodated is designed as a flat hollow body with a height in the range of 2 cm to 8 cm and a width in the range of 5 cm to 35 cm, preferably 7 cm to 25 cm, particularly preferably 10 cm to 20 cm, wherein the filter element is shaped as a flat, planar body and arranged obliquely in the duct section. The filter element is inclined in the duct section or arranged obliquely at the aforementioned angle and rests with one broad side on the underside and in the front region of the duct section and with the opposite broad side on the top in the rear region of the duct section. The terms front region and rear region refer to the flow direction of the process air flow through the duct section, wherein the front region defines the inflow region into said duct section.Alternatively, the filter element can be inserted into the duct section in such a way that one broad side rests against the top and front area of ​​the duct section, and the opposite broad side rests against the bottom in the rear area of ​​the duct section. For all designs, the filter element sits with its surrounding edge sealingly in the said duct section to prevent lint from bypassing the filter element due to sidestreaming process air.

[0012] Overall, all position and direction information refers to the normal operating position of the laundry treatment appliance.

[0013] In a further, overall advantageous embodiment, the channel section is provided with a wedge-shaped recess on the underside, into which the filter element is received at its rear end. This recess enlarges the receiving space at the rearward end of the filter element, thereby improving the flow behavior of the process air through the receiving space.

[0014] In an overall advantageous embodiment, the laundry treatment appliance comprises a box-shaped receiving housing in which the filter element is inserted, wherein the receiving housing with the filter element is slidably inserted into the pipe section as a drawer. The receiving housing is inserted into the channel in such a way that it can be removed from the channel section together with the filter element in order to free it of lint or to clean it. The filter element can preferably be detachably inserted into the receiving housing. In one embodiment of the laundry treatment appliance as a washer-dryer, it can comprise a detergent dispenser drawer with a handle plate which is formed as a partial region of the panel when the detergent dispenser drawer is pushed in, wherein the access opening for the filter element or the cover plate of the filter element is arranged to the side of the handle plate for the detergent dispenser drawer.In this and related embodiments, the guide means arranged in the channel section serve to guide the receiving housing at an angle.

[0015] In a preferred development, the box-shaped receiving housing comprises a handle accessible from the outside of the device, for example a handle plate, and a closure means for the access opening to the channel section.

[0016] In an advantageous further development, the closure means comprises a pipe section with an opening edge that seals against the corresponding opening edge of the pipe section, which leads from below to the essentially horizontally extending duct section, when the receiving housing is pushed into the receiving space of the duct section. The pipe section is preferably curved in such a way that the process air is deflected from the vertical, upward direction into a horizontal, rearward direction. The box-shaped receiving housing is located in the horizontally aligned duct section, and due to the oblique or rearwardly inclined thrust guide, it comes to rest against the opening edge of the pipe end.

[0017] In a practical development, the opening edge of the vertical, supply pipe section or the opening edge of the pipe section in the receiving housing is provided with a circumferential, elastic seal. Due to the angled guidance of the receiving housing, the seal is only touched by the adjacent opening edge at the end of the insertion movement, so that only a small, frictional horizontal component of the movement occurs. Pulling out and inserting the receiving housing thus requires little actuation force, and wear on the seal due to abrasion is minimized.

[0018] Preferably, the laundry treatment appliance is designed as a washer-dryer, wherein the process air module comprises a heat pump device, with a heat exchanger arrangement arranged in the duct section, comprising a condenser as a heating device and an evaporator as a condensing device, and a compressor with connecting lines to the heat exchanger arrangement. The control device is configured to activate and deactivate the compressor to operate the heat pump device for the drying process. The fan, which is already present, is used both to generate the process air flow for the drying phase and for ventilation to remove lint from the textiles.

[0019] The control device can be designed to leave the heat pump device or the compressor switched off or to switch it off during the ventilation phase so that only an air flow is generated without conditioning the process air.

[0020] Alternatively, the control device can be configured to switch on or activate the heat pump device or compressor during the ventilation phase to condition the process air. In particular, the process air can be warmed or heated. This makes some textile fibers more supple, resulting in improved particle detachment when the laundry items are moved simultaneously.

[0021] In a practical embodiment of the laundry treatment appliance as a washer-dryer, it comprises a detergent dispenser drawer with a handle plate which is designed as a part of the panel when the detergent dispenser drawer is pushed in, wherein the access opening for the filter element or the cover plate of the filter element is arranged to the side of the handle plate for the detergent dispenser drawer.

[0022] In an overall advantageous embodiment or refinement, the air inlet is positioned below the level of the drum's rotational axis. This allows the air inlet to be positioned in the lower area of ​​the rear end wall, which ensures a good, straight airflow through the inlet to the drum and through the drum if the rear wall of the drum is designed with holes or, in some areas, as a grid. In this case, there is no air redirection within the tub.

[0023] The air outlet is located in the upper front section of the front bulkhead, ensuring that the process air flows diagonally through the drum from back to front. The outlet is not reached by the laundry items moving in the drum and cannot be blocked by them, as gravity always moves them downwards, away from the outlet. This ensures that the flow of process air is not obstructed.

[0024] Overall, it is advisable to arrange the box-shaped duct section so that the central axis of the duct section flows from the center of the air outlet into the fan. This minimizes the deflection of the process air in the duct section from the inlet opening to the outlet opening to the fan, resulting in little or no flow resistance. Furthermore, the process air flow path is kept short, thus minimizing heat losses.

[0025] The fan is preferably arranged between the rear and rear walls of the housing because the installation space is particularly suitable for this. In the front area, the installation space is cramped because the front loading opening takes up a large portion of the space between the front end wall and the front wall of the housing. The fan is preferably designed as a radial fan and comprises a flow housing with a fan wheel adapted therein. The flow housing has a diameter that corresponds to at least four times the axial extent of the fan, wherein the flow housing is located partially between the rear end wall of the tub and the rear wall of the housing in an extension perpendicular to the axial extent.In other words, the fan is arranged in the rear area of ​​the appliance housing such that at least a portion of the flat flow housing is located between the rear end wall of the tub and the inside of the housing's rear wall. The flow housing can preferably be designed with a diameter that is more than 6 or 8 times the axial extent. The fan impeller is designed to match the geometry of the flow housing. The axial extent is considered to be the length of the flow housing, excluding the drive motor located on the shaft.

[0026] The laundry treatment appliance is preferably a washer-dryer, with the housing being 55 cm to 65 cm wide, 55 to 70 cm deep, and 85 to 95 cm high. The heat pump module, as defined in the above-mentioned examples, is particularly well-suited for the washer-dryer. The housing dimensions already available on the market do not need to be modified to provide such a washer-dryer. In particular, the appliance does not need to be taller than a comparable washer-dryer without a heat pump module arranged above the tub.

[0027] An embodiment of the invention is shown partly schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Fig. 1: a schematic representation of the laundry treatment appliance with heat pump; Fig. 2: the laundry treatment appliance in a perspective front view; Fig. 3: parts of the units of the laundry treatment appliance in a perspective view; Fig. 4: the laundry treatment appliance in a perspective front view; Fig. 5: a side sectional view of the duct section with the filter element inserted; Fig. 6: a side sectional view of the duct section with the filter element partially pulled out; Fig. 7: a sectional view of the duct section seen from the front; and Fig. 8: a partial perspective view of the panel area with the filter element.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows the laundry treatment appliance 1 according to the invention in a schematic sectional view. The appliance 1 is a washer-dryer 1 with a housing 2 and the units arranged therein for carrying out treatment programs. Here, the unit with the tub 4 and the drum 3 rotatably mounted therein can be seen. The interior of the drum 3 is accessible for loading and unloading through the tubular bellows 6 attached to the front. The bellows 6 seals the tub 4 from the door 5 located on the front wall. An inlet line 41 and an inlet valve 42 are provided for directing the wash water in order to supply water to the tub 4 or the drum 3 during a wash phase. The water is guided to the dispenser drawer 43 by means of the inlet line 41 in order to direct detergent stored there into the tub 4 with the water flowing through the drawer.The dispenser drawer 43 is connected to the tub 4 by means of the inlet pipe 44. The drain device 60 comprises a pump 61 and a drain line 62, wherein the pump 61 is activated as needed when this is provided during an automatic wash cycle. The drain device 60 can preferably contain a separator 63 designed to separate lint, particles, and in particular microparticles. The control device 90 is configured and programmed to activate and deactivate the actuators, i.e., the motor 70 for rotating the drum, the inlet valve 42, and the pump 61, in order to execute a treatment program.

[0029] The washer-dryer 1 further comprises a heat pump module 13, which is mounted in the housing 2 above the tub 4 and serves to generate a process air flow PL. The module 13 comprises a refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant is circulated in a line system with an evaporator 15, a compressor 14 ( Fig. 2 ) for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 16 and a throttle (not shown), wherein the heat exchanger contains the evaporator 15 and the heater contains the condenser 16 of the heat pump 13. The module 13 comprises a housing 17 ( Fig. 2 ), in which a channel or horizontally running shaft 8 is incorporated and in which the evaporator 15 and the condenser 16 are mounted. The evaporator 15 and the condenser 16 are arranged in the channel section 8 such that the moist process air PL is guided from the outlet 47 of the tub 4 through the pipe 96 to the channel 8 and in the channel 8 first flows through the evaporator 15 so that it is dehumidified due to the cooling and the resulting condensation. It then flows through the downstream condenser 16, which acts as a heater and heats the process air PL so that the heated process air PL is admitted through the air inlet 46 into the tub 4 and through openings 32 in the drum rear wall 31 into the drum 3 and thus fed to the textiles 10 to be treated. Condensate is collected in the collecting tray 81 and led to the drain 60, 62 via the condensate line 82.The outlet 47 of the lye container 4 is preferably arranged in the area of ​​the loading opening on the front end wall of the lye container 4 or in the tunnel-like passage area of ​​the loading opening. The outlet 47, which forms the inlet to the heat pump module 13, is connected to the heat pump unit 13, in particular to the duct 8, via the line 96.

[0030] The functional module 13 mounted above the lye container 4 further comprises the fan 9, which is driven by the motor 91. The fan 9 comprises a flow housing 93, inside which the fan wheel 92 is located. The housing 93 is flat and has a diameter at least four times greater than its axial length. The fan 9 is positioned above the lye container 4 in the device housing 2 such that a portion of the fan housing 93 extends into the gap between the lye container rear wall 48 and the housing rear wall 21. The fan can preferably be designed as a radial fan, preferably with curved blades, so that it causes a higher volume flow in a preferred direction than in the opposite direction of rotation.

[0031] Overall, all direction and position information refers to the normal operating position of the treatment device 1.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows the washer-dryer 1 with the housing 2 partially open. The front wall 22 encloses the loading opening, which is closed by the door 5. The suds container 4 is suspended or supported in the interior of the housing 2 so as to be able to swing. The drum 3 (shown in dashed lines) is rotatably mounted within the suds container 4 on a horizontal axis 33. The unit 13 for generating the process air PL is arranged above the suds container 4 and completely inside the housing 2. The unit 13 is fastened to the housing 2 so that it does not swing with the suds container 4 when the latter swings due to imbalance in the rotating drum 3. The unit 13 comprises a housing 17, which serves to position and preferably fix the compressor 14, the heat exchangers 15, 16, the lines 18 and the throttle 18a. In the situation shown, the housing 17 is closed and in normal operating condition.The housing 17 encompasses, approximately in its central region, the duct section 8, in which the heat exchangers 15, 16 are housed. The duct section 8 is provided downstream with the box-shaped deflection pipe 83 to redirect the lateral process air flow toward the fan 9. The fan 9 is connected to the circular outlet 83b of the deflection pipe 83 and is located behind the housing 17 of the unit 13. It can be seen that the flat fan outlet 94 points downward and is connected to the rear air line 95, which in turn opens into the air inlet 46 in or on the lye container 4. The fan housing 93 extends at least with the lower region and the outlet 94 in the space between the rear end wall 48 of the tub 4 and the rear wall 21 of the appliance housing 2. In the situation shown, the front loading opening is closed by means of the door 5.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows the washer-dryer 1 in a partially assembled state. Here, the unit with tub 4 and drum 3 and the module housing 17 with fan 9 arranged above it can be seen. The feed pipe 96 is open on the inlet side and is arranged in the upper area of ​​the bellows 6. The pipe 96 opens into the channel section 8a of the housing 17. In the channel section 8a, which is located in front of the heat exchanger 15 ( Fig. 4 ), the lint filter element 100 is arranged to guide the process air PL free of lint to the heat exchangers 15, 16. The filter element 100 is designed as a flat body in order to make the active filter surface larger than the cross-section of the duct section 8a. The filter element 100 can also be a woven mat or a nonwoven mat, even in multiple layers. The filter element 100 is preferably designed to separate microparticles. The duct section 8 is shown here without the heat exchangers 15, 16. The plane of the opening 106 in the duct section 8a is essentially parallel or exactly parallel to the plane of the panel 24 or front wall 22. The air outlet 47 is arranged in the bellows 6. The connecting pipe 96 is attached between the outlet opening 47 and the inlet opening on or in the duct section 8. The bellows 6 forms the tubular connection between the housing-side loading opening and the front access opening of the suds container 4.It can be seen that the filter element 100 is inserted at an angle in the receiving section 8a of the channel 8. Inclined means that the filter element 100 is rotated about a horizontal axis 109, which extends transversely to the direction of extension of the receiving section 8a. The horizontal axis 109 is located on the upper side of the receiving section 8a. The filter element 100 is arranged at an angle W with a value in the range of 5° to 45°, preferably 7° to 30°, more preferably 7° to 15° in the direction of flow of the channel section 8a. This arrangement can apply to all designs.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows the appliance 1 in a perspective overall view with housing 2 in the design with an access opening 107 in the front wall 22 or panel 24. The access opening 24a is closed with the cover 103. In the example, the cover 103 is part of the filter element 100 and is designed as a single structural unit with the filter medium 101. The cover 103 is preferably located in the plane of the panel 24 when the drawer 100 is pushed in. The filter medium 101 can be designed as a fine-mesh sieve or gauze or as already described above. Also visible is the front wall 22 with the door 5 pivotally mounted thereon. The panel 24 arranged in the upper area of ​​the front wall 22 can extend across the entire width of the appliance 1. The panel 24 can, for example, contain operating elements and a shaft opening for the detergent dispenser drawer 43 ( Fig. 1 ). In the example shown according to Fig. 4 The filter element 100 is designed as a drawer, wherein the filter medium 101 can be inserted through the channel opening 106 into the channel section 8b or, in the normal operating situation, is located in the channel section 8b. A sealing means 105 is applied around the edge surrounding the opening 106 in order to seal the opening 106 when the filter element 100 is in the inserted and normal operating position.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows a section of the duct section 8a with the inserted filter element 100. The filter element 100 is designed as a flat body and lies obliquely or inclined in the duct section 8a. The process air passes from the connecting pipe 96 to the lower nozzle 120 on the filter housing 110, and then passes through the filter medium 101 of the filter element 100. The process air PL leaves the filter element 100 at the top of the filter medium 101. In the shown, normal operating position, the opening edge of the nozzle 120 rests sealingly on the seal 121, wherein the seal 121 is arranged circumferentially on the opening edge 124 of the connecting pipe 96. The filtered process air PL then passes within the duct 8 to the heat exchanger 15 and the other components (not shown) of the unit 13 for generating the process air PL. The element 100 comprises a support frame 102, which is equipped with a flat gauze layer 107.The filter media 101, formed as a flat mat of open-pored and fine-pored foam, is inserted into the support frame. The filter media 101 can be referred to as a fine filter and can also consist of a multi-layer, fine-mesh fabric. These components 102, 107, and 101 can already complete the filter element 100.

[0036] Furthermore, it can be seen that the channel section 8a is provided with a bulge 122 on the lower channel wall, into which the lower, rear end 100a of the filter element 100 or the receiving housing 110 protrudes. The bulge 122 is wedge-shaped in the illustrated side sectional view.

[0037] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the same channel section 8a in the situation in which the receiving housing 110 with the filter element 100 has been pulled slightly out of the channel section 8a. It can be seen that the opening edge of the nozzle 120 no longer rests on the seal 121. Furthermore, it can be seen that the nozzle 120 is raised a few millimeters from the seal 121 and not on a horizontal line. Also sketched is a guide means 130, which is preferably in the form of a rail. A corresponding contour 131 is attached to the receiving housing on the side or on both sides, which rests on the guide rail or the web 130.

[0038] Fig. 7 shows the channel 8a in section plane AA. The individual components are shown in the description for Fig. 5 and 6present. The guide of the receiving housing 110 can be seen on the inner sides of the lateral channel walls 8d, 8e. A web 130 is formed on the first side wall 8e. The outer projection 132 of the receiving housing rests on this web 130. A corresponding arrangement is arranged on the opposite side wall 8e.

[0039] Fig. 8shows the upper area of ​​the device 1 in a perspective side view with housing 2 in the design with an access opening 24a in the front wall 22 or panel 24. The access opening 24a is closed with the cover 103. In the example, the cover 103 is part of the filter element 100 and is designed as a single structural unit with the filter medium 101. The cover 103 is preferably located in the plane of the panel 24 when the drawer 100 is pushed in. The cover 103 is designed as a gripping plate with a handle. The filter medium 101 can be designed as a fine-mesh sieve or gauze or as already described above. Looking into the channel section 8a through openings 24a and 106, the guide web 130 can be seen on the inside of the side wall 8d.The receiving housing 110 has a corresponding contour 132 on both side walls, which comes to rest on the guide web 130 when the receiving housing 110 is or has been pushed into the channel section 8a.

[0040] Overall, all directions and position information refer to the normal operating position of the laundry treatment appliance 1.

Claims

1. Laundry treatment appliance (1) with the following features: - a housing (2); - a cylindrical tub (4); - a cylindrical drum (3) which is rotatably mounted in the tub (4) with a horizontal or inclined axis (33) and is designed to hold laundry; - wherein the drum (3) has openings (32) or perforations in its front rear wall (31) to allow an air flow (PL) from the tub (4) through the drum (3); - wherein the tub (4) has an air inlet (46) and an air outlet (47); - an inlet device (42) for admitting washing liquid into the tub (4); - a drain device (60) for draining the washing liquid from the tub; - a process air module (13) which is mounted in the housing (2) above the lye container (4), with - a module housing (17) comprising a duct section (8, 8a), - a fan (9) for generating orConveying process air (PL) through the duct section (8) and the drum (3); - a first pipe (95) for connecting the duct section (8) to the air inlet (6) of the lye container (4) and a second pipe (96) for connecting the duct section (8) to the air outlet (47) of the lye container (4) and a filter element (100) which is arranged in the duct section (8a) or in the second pipe (96); - a control device (90) which is set up and programmed to activate and deactivate the actuators, i.e. the motor (70) for rotating the drum (3), the inlet device (42) and the outlet device (60, 61), in order to carry out a treatment program. characterized by thatthe filter element (100) is designed as a flat body made of filter medium (101) and is arranged obliquely at an angle (W) in the range from 5° to 45°, preferably 7° to 30°, more preferably 7° to 15° in the direction of extension in the flow direction of the channel section (8a), wherein the filter element (100) is slidably inserted into the channel section (8a). wherein the housing (2) comprises an access opening (107) to the channel section (8b) or tube (96), and the channel section (8a) or the tube (96) comprises an access opening (106) for the filter element (100) that can be closed with a closure means (103, 120), wherein the channel section (8a) has guide means (130) that are positioned at an incline or sloping inwards in order to guide the filter element (100) slidably at an incline into the channel section (8a).

2. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the filter element (100) has a length extending in the flow direction with a value in the range of 5 cm to 30 cm, preferably 10 to 20 cm, a width in the range of 5 cm to 35 cm, preferably 7 cm to 25 cm, particularly preferably 10 cm to 20 cm and a thickness in the range of 0.1 cm to 2 cm, preferably 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.

3. Laundry treatment appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide means (130) are designed as a rail or web, which are each arranged at an angle (X) with a value in the range of 5° to 45°, preferably 7° to 30°, more preferably 7° to 15°, on the respective inner side of the opposite, lateral channel walls (8d, 8e).

4. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel section (8e) is designed as a flat hollow body with a height in the range of 2 cm to 8 cm and a width in the range of 5 cm to 35 cm, preferably 7 cm to 25 cm, particularly preferably 10 cm to 20 cm, wherein the filter element (100) is shaped as a flat, planar body and is arranged obliquely in the channel section (8a).

5. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to claim 4, wherein the channel section (8a) has a wedge-shaped bulge (122) on the underside (8c) in which the filter element (100) is received with its rear end (100a).

6. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a box-shaped receiving housing (110) in which the filter element (100) is inserted, wherein the receiving housing (110) with the filter element (100) is slidably inserted into the tube section (8a).

7. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to claim 6, wherein the box-shaped receiving housing (110) comprises a handle (103) and a closure means (103, 120) of the access opening (106) to the channel section (8a).

8. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein the closure means comprises a tube section (120) with an opening edge (122) which sealingly bears against the corresponding opening edge (124) of the tube section (96) when the receiving housing (110) is inserted into the channel section (8a).

9. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to claim 8, wherein the opening edge (124) of the tube section (96) or the opening edge (122) of the tube section (120) in the receiving housing (110) is provided with a circumferential, elastic seal (121).

10. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the process air module comprises a heat pump device (13), with - a heat exchanger arrangement arranged in the channel section (8) with a condenser (16) as a heating device and evaporator (15) as a condensing device and - a compressor (14) with connecting lines to the heat exchanger arrangement (15, 16), wherein the control device (90) is designed to activate and deactivate the compressor (14) in order to operate the heat pump device (13).

11. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control device (90) is configured to - activate and deactivate the drive motor (70) in order to move the drum with washing liquid during the treatment program (P) and to move the laundry during the wet treatment (W) for a predetermined duration; - activate the drain device (60, 61) to remove the used or dirty washing liquid from the drum (3) or the tub (4) after the expiration of the predetermined time of the wet treatment (W); - activate the drive motor (7) for a predetermined duration in order to rotate the drum (3) at a speed above the initial speed in order to carry out a spin phase (S).

12. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein in the tub (4) the air inlet (46) is arranged in the rear end wall (48) in the lower region and wherein in or on the tub (4) the air outlet (47) is arranged in the front, middle upper region of the front end wall.

13. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the fan (9) is arranged at least partially behind the rear end face (48) of the tub (4).

14. Laundry treatment appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, which is a washer-dryer (1), wherein the housing is 55 cm to 75 cm wide, 55 to 75 cm deep and 85 to 105 cm high.

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