Fragrance and / or fabric softener, washing machine and method for operating the washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) for a washing machine (1), comprising: - 50-95 wt.% of a carrier material, - 1-15 wt.% perfume or encapsulated perfume, and - 0-50% solid fabric softening component, wherein the fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) is formed as a solid block, the geometry of which is adapted to a fabric softener compartment (6) of a washing machine.Furthermore, the invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a tub (3) for receiving water, a drum (3a) rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry, a dispenser (4) with a detergent compartment (5) for receiving detergent and a fabric softener compartment (6) for receiving a fragrance and / or fabric softener (16), which is designed as a solid block, a water supply device (4a, 4b) for letting water into the tub (3) via the dispenser (4), and a control and / or regulating device which is configured and designed to control and / or regulate the water supply device (4a, 4b) in such a way that during a final rinse cycle of several rinse cycles of a washing program, it supplies a predetermined quantity of water to the fabric softener compartment (6), so that a predetermined quantity of the fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) is dissolved by the water and supplied to the tub (3).Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method for operating the washing machine.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fragrance and / or fabric softener, a washing machine, and a method for operating the washing machine. In particular, the invention relates to a fragrance and / or fabric softener for a washing machine, a washing machine configured to use the fragrance and / or fabric softener during the execution of a washing program, and a corresponding method for operating the washing machine.

[0002] Users can have their laundry treated with a fragrance and / or fabric softener during the washing program to ensure pleasantly scented and / or soft laundry. Fragrance is a powerful ingredient and is synonymous with cleanliness. Such fragrance and / or fabric softeners are difficult or impossible to automatically dispense into the washing machine. Fabric softener caps are only suitable for one-time use and generate a disproportionate amount of waste.

[0003] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an automatically dosable fragrance and / or fabric softener for a washing machine as well as a washing machine and a method which are designed to automatically dose a fragrance and / or fabric softener.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a fragrance and / or fabric softener having the features of patent claim 1, a washing machine having the features of patent claim 6, and a method having the features of patent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

[0005] The advantages achieved with the invention include automatic dosing in the form of automatically dosable multiple applications for fragrance and / or fabric softener, as well as the fact that a more intense fragrance experience is possible through the use of long-lasting fragrances such as encapsulated fragrances. Easy fragrance changes and a variety of fragrances are possible. Furthermore, the fragrance and / or fabric softener is sustainable, can be packaged in minimal packaging, and no water is required to transport it. Furthermore, there is no waste of fragrances, as fragrance is only dosed during the final rinse cycle. No additional components are required for the washing machine for dosing. Only a control and / or regulating device on the washing machine must be or will be set up accordingly to carry out the process.In addition, the fragrance and / or fabric softener level can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of water that flows through the fabric softener compartment during the final rinse cycle.

[0006] The invention relates to a fragrance and / or fabric softener for a washing machine, comprising 50-95% by weight of a carrier material, 1-15% by weight of perfume or encapsulated perfume, and 0-50% solid fabric softener component, wherein the fragrance and / or fabric softener is designed as a solid block whose geometry is adapted to a fabric softener compartment of a washing machine.

[0007] The solid block may be formed into a predetermined size and / or shape by casting, pressing, extrusion or other manufacturing processes.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the solid block has three-dimensional dimensions that are adapted to the dimensions of the fabric softener compartment. It is designed to fit into the fabric softener compartment. Alternatively or additionally, the solid block preferably has one or more recesses and / or one or more holes that are designed to receive projecting elements of the fabric softener compartment. Typically, the fabric softener compartment contains projecting elements for water supply, such as a siphon, pipes, etc. The solid block is preferably adapted to these structural geometries of the fabric softener compartment so that it can be placed into the fabric softener compartment by a user as it is.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the carrier material is selected from PEG (polyethylene glycol), urea, inorganic, or organic salts. The inorganic salt is, for example, sodium chloride. The organic salt is, for example, sodium acetate. The encapsulated perfume is a perfume capsule, i.e., a perfume contained within a capsule. The solid fabric softener component is preferably esterquat. This creates a soft feel to the laundry.

[0010] The fragrance and / or fabric softener preferably further contains one or more excipients. The excipient(s) is / are preferably selected from the group consisting of dyes, preservatives, disintegrants, consistency regulators, and mixtures thereof. This further allows the dissolving behavior of the fragrance or fabric softener to be adjusted.

[0011] The fragrance and / or fabric softener is preferably designed to withstand at least 10, preferably at least 25, wash cycles. This makes it sustainable. This dissolution behavior can be adjusted by the starting materials used. A wash cycle preferably comprises one wash cycle and several rinse cycles.

[0012] The invention further relates to a washing machine, comprising a tub for holding water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for holding laundry, a dispenser with a detergent compartment for holding detergent and a fabric softener compartment for holding a fragrance and / or fabric softener, which is designed as a solid block, a water supply device for admitting the water into the tub via the dispenser, and a control and / or regulating device which is set up and designed to control and / or regulate the water supply device in such a way that it supplies a predetermined amount of water to the fabric softener compartment during a last rinse cycle of a plurality of rinse cycles of a washing program, so that a predetermined amount of the fragrance and / or fabric softener is dissolved from the water and supplied to the tub.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined amount of water depends on a user input and / or on data stored in the washing machine. For example, the control and / or regulating device is set up and designed to control and / or regulate an operating unit of the washing machine such that the user can make a corresponding input and select this during execution of the associated washing program and / or washing process. Alternatively or additionally, the control and / or regulating device is set up and designed to select the predetermined amount of water depending on the washing program selected by the user. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined amount of water depends on a load size and type of laundry in the drum. The control and / or regulating device is preferably set up and designed to control and / or regulate a determination of the load size and the type of laundry.

[0014] Preferably, the fabric softener compartment has a siphon and a sieve, wherein the sieve is arranged at a bottom of the fabric softener compartment in such a way that it prevents the siphon from being blocked by a fragrance and / or fabric softener contained in the fabric softener compartment, and that a predetermined area of ​​the fragrance and / or fabric softener contained in the compartment comes into contact with the water being rinsed in when the fabric softener compartment is rinsed out. This ensures even removal of the fragrance and / or fabric softener.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating the washing machine according to one or more of the embodiments described above, comprising the following steps after selecting a washing program with several rinse cycles: Selecting a desired fragrance and / or fabric softener level based on a user input or data stored in the washing machine, determining the amount and type of laundry in the drum based on a wash program selection by the user, a laundry load determination and / or a laundry absorbency level, calculating a water quantity from the determined amount and type of laundry and the selected fragrance and / or fabric softener level, and dosing the fragrance and / or fabric softener in the last rinse cycle using the calculated water quantity.

[0016] Selecting a desired fragrance and / or fabric softener level based on data stored in the washing machine includes, for example, a predetermined fragrance and / or fabric softener level associated with the washing program selected by the user and / or incorporating previous user inputs.

[0017] Determining the quantity and type of laundry in the drum based on laundry load and / or laundry absorption can be done using an inertia method. Such methods are known.

[0018] Preferably, the washing program comprises several rinse cycles, preferably 2 to 5, more preferably 3.

[0019] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows schematically and not to scale. Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 partial supervision of the Fig. 1 washing machine shown; and Fig. 3 a plan view of a fragrance and / or fabric softener according to the invention.

[0020] Fig. 1 showed a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to the invention. The washing machine 1 has a tub 3 arranged in a housing 2, in which a drum 3a is rotatably mounted. A water supply device 4a, 4b and a dispenser 4 in the form of a dispenser drawer are provided in the housing 2 of the washing machine 1. The dispenser 4 has a detergent compartment 5 and a fabric softener compartment 6 for separately storing a detergent and a fragrance and / or fabric softener, which can be flushed into the tub 3 by introduced liquid, such as water, from the respective chambers 5 and 6. Above the compartments 5, 6, the washing machine 1 has a water supply device 4b with nozzles, which allows water to be flushed separately into the chambers 5 and 6 by aligning or controlling the nozzles, and from the respective compartments 5 and 6 into the tub 3.The washing machine 1 further comprises a control and / or regulating device 7, which is designed to control and / or regulate a washing program selected by a user. The control and / or regulating device 7 is further configured and designed to control and / or regulate the water supply device 4a, 4b such that, during a final rinse cycle of several rinse cycles of a washing program, it supplies a predetermined amount of water to the fabric softener compartment 6, so that a predetermined amount of the fragrance and / or fabric softener in the form of the solid block is released from the water and supplied to the tub 3. The washing machine 1 further comprises a drain device (not shown) by means of which liquid can be removed from the tub.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a partial view of the Fig. 1 The washing machine 1 shown has a housing 2 and a dispenser 4, which is partially pulled out of the washing machine 1. The dispenser 4 has a detergent compartment 5 for holding the detergent and a fabric softener compartment 6 for holding the fragrance and / or fabric softener. The fabric softener compartment 6 is designed for arranging a Fig. 3 The fragrance and fabric softener shown is designed in the form of a solid block. The fabric softener compartment 6 has a siphon 9 and a tube 8. A lid 17 for covering the fabric softener compartment 6 has two tubular projections 18.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a top view of a fragrance and / or fabric softener according to the invention. The fragrance and / or fabric softener 16 is designed as a solid block-shaped fragrance and / or fabric softener that has a recess 12, an opening 14, and further recesses 15 in the form of through holes.

[0023] The fragrance and / or fabric softener 16 is adapted to a geometry of the Fig. 2 shown fabric softener compartment. With reference to Fig.2 und 3 the tubular projections 18 go through the recesses 15 and into the holes 10, the tube 8 goes through the opening 14 and the suction lifter 9 goes into the recess 12 when the lid 17 rests on walls 19 of the fabric softener compartment 6, so that the tube 8 lies on top of the further opening 19 of the lid 17. List of reference symbols

[0024] 1 Washing machine 2 Housing 3 Tub 3a Drum 4 Dispensing device 4a, 4b Water supply device 5 Detergent compartment 6 Fabric softener compartment 7 Control device 8 Pipe 9 Siphon 10 Hole 12 Recess 14 Opening 15 Further recess 16 Fragrance and / or fabric softener 17 Lid 18 Projection 19 Further opening

Claims

1. Fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) for a washing machine (1), comprising - 50 - 95 wt.% of a carrier material, - 1 - 15 wt.% perfume or encapsulated perfume, and - 0-50% solid fabric softener component, wherein the fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) is designed as a solid block whose geometry is adapted to a fabric softener compartment (6) of a washing machine.

2. Fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid block has three-dimensional dimensions adapted to the dimensions of the fabric softener compartment (6) and / or one or more recesses (15) and / or holes (14) which are designed to receive projecting elements of the fabric softener compartment (6).

3. Fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier material is selected from PEG, urea, inorganic or organic salts and / or the solid fabric softener component is esterquat.

4. Fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by one or more excipients, which are preferably selected from the group consisting of colorants, preservatives, disintegrants, consistency regulators and mixtures thereof.

5. Fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed to carry out at least 10, preferably at least 25 washing processes.

6. Washing machine (1), comprising a tub (3) for holding water, a drum (3a) rotatably mounted in the tub for holding laundry, a dispenser (4) with a detergent compartment (5) for holding detergent and a fabric softener compartment (6) for holding a fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) which is designed as a solid block, a water supply device (4a, 4b) for admitting the water via the dispenser (4) into the tub (3), and a control and / or regulating device (7) which is designed and configured to control and / or regulate the water supply device (4a, 4b) in such a way that it supplies a predetermined amount of water to the fabric softener compartment (6) during a last rinse cycle of a plurality of rinse cycles of a washing program, so that a predetermined amount of the fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) is dissolved from the water and supplied to the tub (3).

7. Washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe predetermined amount of water depends on a user input and / or data stored in the washing machine.

8. Washing machine according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the predetermined amount of water depends on the load and type of laundry in the drum (3a).

9. Washing machine according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the fabric softener compartment has a siphon (9) and a sieve, wherein the sieve is arranged on a bottom of the fabric softener compartment (6) in such a way that it prevents blockage of the siphon (9) by a received fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) and that a predetermined surface of the received fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) comes into contact with the water rinsed in when the fabric softener compartment (6) is rinsed out.

10. A method for operating the washing machine according to one of claims 6 to 9, comprising the following steps after selecting a washing program with several rinse cycles: - selecting a desired fragrance and / or fabric softener level based on a user input or data stored in the washing machine, - determining an amount and type of laundry in the drum (3a) based on a washing program selection by the user, a laundry load determination and / or a suction behavior of the laundry, - calculating a water quantity from the determined amount and type of laundry and the selected fragrance and / or fabric softener level, and - dosing the fragrance and / or fabric softener (16) in the last rinse cycle using the calculated water quantity.

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