DE102011006783B4 - Front-loadable laundry care with a cuff - Google Patents

Abstract

From the front loadable Wäschepflegemaschine, with a recorded in a machine housing and a rotatable laundry drum (1) having tub, which has a oriented toward a loading and unloading of the machine housing feed opening, wherein the feed opening and the loading and unloading via an intermediate sleeve (2; 12; 18) are connected, which defines an annular gap (3) on the part of the laundry drum (1) via a radial extension (5) together with a side wall (4) of the laundry drum (1), characterized in that one of the annular gap (3) facing surface of the radial extent (5) and / or the annular gap (3) facing surface of the side wall (4) at least in the region of an opening (6) of the laundry drum (1) is provided with Abweisemitteln which an attaching laundry to the annular gap (3) prevent.

Description

The invention relates to a front-loadable laundry care machine, in particular a washing machine or a laundry dryer, having a washing tub accommodated in a machine housing and having a rotatable laundry drum, which has a feed opening oriented in the direction of a loading and unloading opening of the machine housing, wherein the feed opening and the loading opening and unloading are connected via an intermediate sleeve, which defines an annular gap on the part of the laundry drum over a radial extent together with a side wall of the laundry drum.

Washing machines and washer-dryers are predominantly realized in the form of front-end loaders in which items of laundry can be introduced into or removed from a front side of a machine housing, the machine housing having a loading and unloading opening on the front side, which has a porthole-shaped opening Sight glass trained door is lockable. In this case, the laundry drum is rotatably mounted in a recorded in the machine housing tub, said tub and the washing drum arranged therein have this one of the loading and unloading of the machine housing facing feed opening to allow the loading of the laundry drum from the front side. An axial distance between the feed opening of the tub and the laundry drum and the loading and unloading of the machine housing is bridged by a cuff, which is usually designed predominantly hollow cylindrical and to compensate for occurring during operation of the washing machine movements of the one end connected to the tub having bellows shaped areas. The bullseye-shaped sight glass protrudes into the radial interior of this collar, preferably into the region of the feed opening, so that items of laundry introduced into the laundry drum are held in the drum. Furthermore, the sleeve usually has a sealing lamella which is in contact with the laundry drum and which is intended to prevent the entry of laundry items into the tub during charging or during a washing or spinning process. In addition, further measures can be taken to prevent an entry of laundry items in an annular gap formed between the sleeve and the laundry drum in the radial direction, resulting in high relative movements occurring during operation of the washing machine, damage to pieces of laundry that have been put in, and possibly also to impairment (up to the Damage) of the cuff could lead. A common measure is to provide the sight glass with a frusto-conical outer contour, which ensures a transport of the laundry items in the back of the laundry drum. Furthermore, it is also frequently provided via corresponding cross sections of the annular gap or corresponding embodiments of the sleeve in the region of the annular gap for rejecting penetrating laundry items. Finally, it is also customary to arrange so-called laundry deflectors in an upper part of the cuff, which also give the laundry items, upon contact, an impulse in the direction of a rear part of the laundry drum. All these measures are also used in laundry care in the form of Waschchtrocknem used, which can take over the washing function and a drying filled laundry.

From the WO 2008/104420 A1 is one of the feedable washing machine, in which in a machine housing a tub is received, which is oriented with a feed opening in the direction of a front loading and unloading of the machine housing. In this case, the feed opening of the tub and the loading and unloading of the machine housing is bridged in the axial direction via an intermediate sleeve, which is in this case designed cylindrically and with a bellows-like area. In addition, a laundry drum is rotatably mounted in the tub and oriented with an opening also in the direction of the loading and unloading of the machine housing. On a side facing the laundry drum, the sleeve forms with a radial extension together with the laundry drum an annular gap which, starting from the opening of the laundry drum, extends radially in the direction of the interior of the tub. When filling the laundry drum or even during a washing or spinning process of the washing machine, it can happen, in particular for larger quantities, that laundry items enter the annular gap between the laundry drum and the cuff. In the long run, due to the shearing action then acting on the laundry due to the stationary sleeve and the revolving drum, this leads to a destruction of the items of laundry that have entered. To prevent this, has the cuff on an inner peripheral surface via laundry deflectors, which protrude radially beyond the sleeve inside and passed into the annular gap laundry items impart a pulse in a rear region of the laundry drum.

Another Wäschepflegemaschine with a device to prevent the ingress of laundry or small parts between a sleeve and a drum is in the subsequently published DE 10 2010 028 492 A1 discloses, wherein the sleeve is connected by a sliding device with at least one sliding element, which is connected to the edge web of the drum. By such a device, a gap between the sleeve and the edge web of the drum is prevented.

A washing machine with a drum, a sleeve and a Wäscheabweiser, which is arranged in its overlapping to the edge web of the drum and the gap-forming position, is in DE 10 2008 004 524 B3 disclosed.

DE 102 37 017 B3 discloses a washing machine with a drum and a Wäscheabweiser, which is arranged in the region of the top dead center of the drum.

Further relevant disclosure in this case can be found in the following documents: EP 1 297 210 B1 . EP 1 297 212 B1 . EP 1 697 574 B1 . WO 2008/003592 A1 and WO 2010/066539 A1 ,

Based on the above-described prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a washing machine or a washer-dryer, in which the risk of an on-going of laundry items in the annular gap is reduced or, nevertheless, a harmful shear stress of the laundry Cuff and laundry drum is prevented. These measures should be effective even with a greater degree of filling the laundry drum and smaller items of laundry.

This object is achieved on the basis of the preamble of the independent claim in conjunction with its characterizing features. The following, dependent claims give each advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The invention comprises the technical teaching that a surface of the radial extension of the sleeve and / or the annular gap facing surface of the side wall of the laundry drum is provided at least in the region of an opening of the laundry drum with Abweisemitteln which prevent an attachment of laundry to the annular gap , By this measure, on the one hand hinders the arrival of laundry items in the annular gap, as arrived in the region of the opening laundry continues to be moved through the laundry drum and thereby withdrawn back into the interior. Otherwise, namely, getting laundry into the region of the opening causes the laundry to adhere to it due to a higher sliding friction in the contact area with the sleeve and tends to retract into the annular gap when the drum is rotated. On the other hand, by stopping the attachment of the items of laundry to the sleeve, it is achieved that none or only a small amount of shearing applied to the annular gap is thus exposed and thus damage from the relative movement between the laundry drum and the sleeve can be prevented.

In contrast, at the WO 2008/104420 A1 Although the laundry items by the radially above laundry deflector on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve imparted an impulse in the rear region of the laundry drum, their attaching laundry to the gap formed between the sleeve and the drum can still take place. Thus, the garments entering the annular gap are subjected to shear stress due to the relative movement between the laundry drum and the sleeve, at least until contact with the laundry deflectors. In the worst case, however, the laundry items have already penetrated so far into the annular gap that either contact with the radially protruding laundry deflectors is no longer possible or only causes too low an impulse due to strong adherence to the cuff. Especially with small parts there is a risk that they very quickly penetrate very far into the annular gap.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the deflecting means are formed in that a sliding friction of the laundry at the annular gap facing surface of the radial extent, at least in the region of the opening is lower than a sliding friction of the laundry on the annular gap facing surface of the side wall. Thus, at least in the region of the opening, the sliding friction between the laundry drum and laundry is increased in a targeted manner compared to the sliding friction between the laundry and the cuff. As a result, there is no adherence of the laundry items to the sleeve in the region of the annular gap, but these remain due to the higher sliding friction adhere to the laundry drum and be withdrawn in their movement back into an interior of the laundry drum.

The aforementioned effect is achieved in a further development in that the annular gap facing surface of the side wall of the laundry drum is roughened at least in the region of the opening. This can be achieved, for example, already during the manufacture of the laundry drum by suitable measures, such as, for example, grinding, sand blasting, chemical etching, by plasma treatment. But there is also one subsequent roughening of the laundry drum at least in the region of the critical surfaces, that is, at least in the region of the opening, by grinding, sandblasting or chemical etching or by plasma treatment conceivable. According to a complementary or alternative embodiment, a friction-increasing structure is impressed on the surface of the side wall of the laundry drum facing the annular gap and at least in the region of the opening.

Furthermore, the abovementioned sliding friction difference can be achieved according to the invention in that a material with a low coefficient of sliding friction is applied to the sleeve at least on the part of the annular gap, or the sleeve consists of this at least on the part of the annular gap. In the context of the invention, it is conceivable to design the entire sleeve made of a material having a low sliding friction coefficient, for example EPDM (ethylene-propylene terpolymer rubber) or NBR (nitrile rubber). Furthermore, it is also conceivable to apply on the part of the annular gap a separate ring on the sleeve, which consists of a material having a low coefficient of sliding friction, for example, the two aforementioned materials. Furthermore, it is possible that this separate ring consists of another polymer with low sliding friction, for example a fluorohydrocarbon such as PTFE. This ring is then fixed by suitable measures on the sleeve, for example, slipped up, clamped, snapped, clipped or shrunk. In addition, a back injection of such a ring on the sleeve is conceivable. Finally, a lower sliding friction of the garment on the cuff can also be represented by configuring the cuff only on the side of the annular gap with the material having a lower coefficient of sliding friction, for example by 2-component spraying or by subsequent conditioning of the corresponding surfaces by surface treatments , for example by means of chemical reaction, plasma treatment, surface coating, etc.

Depending on the achievable sliding friction values on the laundry drum and on the cuff, the aforementioned measures are to be carried out both on the cuff and the washing drum or else only on one of the two. Since there is no direct contact between the laundry drum and the sleeve, no minimum sliding friction values are to be observed here.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the deflecting means comprise surface structures which are arranged on the surface of the radial extent of the sleeve facing the annular gap and extend in the axial direction into the annular gap. These surface structures are in particular formed by nubs, which are arranged on a circumference in the annular gap facing surface of the radial extent and in the radial direction inwardly oriented slopes. Particularly preferably, the nubs each have a pyramid-like contour. By such a design of the Abweisemittel, which can be used alternatively or in addition to the modifications of the Gleitreibungseigenschaften application, brought into the annular gap laundry can be conveyed out of this again through the surface structures and introduced back into the interior of the laundry drum. A design of these surface structures by pyramid-like knobs allows this return promotion in washing machines with reversing operation, so changing rotational directions of the laundry drum. Alternatively, however, in washing machines with only one direction of rotation, a fin-like configuration of the surface structures is conceivable, these fins then likewise extending in the axial direction into the annular gap. In general, however, otherwise contours formed on the cuff come into consideration, which cause due to their shape, a herausbeförderung promotion lingering laundry from the annular gap. In addition, the surface structures must have a suitable rigidity in order not to deform on contact with the laundry, in particular to buckle, and even possibly cause their wedging in the annular gap. The latter aspect is to be considered in particular in the fin-like configuration of the surface structures.

In a further development of the invention, the deflecting means are provided on the part of the sleeve on a collar facing the annular gap of the sleeve. Furthermore, the deflecting means on the part of the laundry drum are preferably designed on a drum fold.

The invention is not limited to the specified combination of the features of the independent claim or the dependent claims. It also results in ways to combine individual features, even if they emerge from the claims, the following description of the embodiments or directly from the drawings. The reference of the claims to the drawing by the use of reference numerals is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

• 1 eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Waschmaschine im Bereich eines Ringspalts gemäß einer ersten bevorzugten Ausgestaltung;
• 2 eine Schnittansicht einer Manschette einer Waschmaschine gemäß einer zweiten bevorzugten Ausgestaltung;
• 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Kragens der Manschette gemäß 2 mit einer ersten bevorzugten Ausgestaltungsmöglichkeit;
• 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Kragens der Manschette gemäß 2 mit einer zweiten bevorzugten Ausgestaltungsmöglichkeit; und
• 5 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht eines Kragens einer Manschette gemäß einer alternativen Ausgestaltungsmöglichkeit.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of Invention, which refer to the figures shown in the drawing. Show it:

• 1 a schematic sectional view of a washing machine in the region of an annular gap according to a first preferred embodiment;
• 2 a sectional view of a sleeve of a washing machine according to a second preferred embodiment;
• 3 a perspective view of a collar of the cuff according to 2 with a first preferred embodiment possibility;
• 4 a perspective view of a collar of the cuff according to 2 with a second preferred embodiment; and
• 5 a schematic, perspective view of a collar of a cuff according to an alternative embodiment possibility.

In 1 is a first preferred embodiment of a washing machine in the region of, by a laundry drum 1 and a cuff 2 defined annular gap 3 shown. The washing machine otherwise has a generally known construction, so that the further elements should not be discussed further here. In addition, this may also be a washer-dryer which, as a combination appliance, performs both the washing function and a subsequent drying of the laundry. The annular gap 3 is between a front end wall 4 the laundry drum 1 and a radial extent 5 the cuff 2 defined and extends in the radial direction, starting from an opening 6 the laundry drum 1 to one, the laundry drum 1 receiving and presently not shown in the tub.

When filling an interior 7 the laundry drum 1 over the opening 6 and also at a later operation of the washing machine and corresponding rotational movements of the laundry drum 1 There is a risk that individual items of laundry in the region of the annular gap especially for large amounts of laundry 3 arrive and in particular axially between the laundry drum 1 and the cuff 2 be trapped. Due to the fact that the cuff 2 Usually made of an elastomeric material while the laundry drum is made of a metallic material, the sliding friction between the laundry and the cuff would be 2 this higher than between the laundry and the laundry drum 1 , The laundry would therefore be on the cuff 2 adhering and constantly rub the rotating drum on the laundry, which would lead to damage or even damage to the laundry in extreme cases.

To avoid this, the washing machine is in the area of the annular gap 3 now provided with Abweisemitteln. On the part of the cuff 2 These are repellents through a cuff ring 8th formed, which on a collar 9 the cuff 2 is applied and consists of a material with a low coefficient of sliding friction. This collar ring is preferred 8th hereby made of EPDM (ethylene-propylene terpolymers rubber) or NBR (nitrile rubber) or polymers of fluorohydrocarbons (eg PTFE). The cuff ring 8th is on the collar 9 slipped up the cuff, but alternatively can also be clamped, snapped, clipped or shrunk. By providing the sleeve ring 8th is thus the collar 9 on one of the laundry drum 1 facing side provided with a material of low coefficient of sliding friction. On the side of the laundry drum 1 is a drum fold 10 , as well as an underlying surface section 11 the side wall 4 provided with a roughened surface, which in this case by grinding the corresponding surface parts of the manufacture of the cuff 2 used tool or the cuff 2 homemade. Alternatively, however, these roughened surfaces may also be made by sandblasting, etching, plasma treatment or similar measures.

About the cuff ring 8th and the surface designs of the drum fold 10 and the area section 11 is achieved that in the area of the annular gap 3 a sliding friction in the laundry on the cuff 2 less than a sliding friction of the laundry on the laundry drum 1 , This causes in the annular gap 3 Did not get laundry on the cuff 2 clings, but through the laundry drum 1 is moved. As a result, on the one hand, the risk of an on-going laundry in the annular gap 3 diminished and the other when turning the laundry drum 1 a return transport in their interior 7 caused. It can therefore an instantaneous throwing out of the laundry items from the annular gap 3 be achieved.

Out 2 is a sectional view of a cuff 12 a washing machine according to a second preferred embodiment. An arrangement of the cuff 12 in the washing machine corresponds in principle to those from 1 , As a special feature has this cuff 12 now on a collar 13 their radial extent 14 over pimples 15 , which over the circumference of the cuff 12 on the collar 13 are arranged and starting from a radial extent of the collar 13 extend in the axial direction. In addition, the pimples have 15 here over radially inwardly oriented slopes. This embodiment is particularly in combination with the perspective view 3 can be seen from which the contour of the knobs 15 evident. As can be seen here, show the nubs 15 while pyramidal contours and extend from an axial shoulder 16 of the collar 13 radially inward. The pyramidal contour may have different orientation and its edges may be more or less chamfered. Furthermore, the height of the pyramids or nubs 15 in whole or in part, the height of the paragraph 16 taking.

Out 4 is an alternative embodiment of nubs 17 out. In contrast to the previously described variant are the nubs 17 in this case formed by rounded pyramids. There are also other designs of the knobs or even their extent in the radial direction only over part of the collar 13 conceivable.

Finally, go out 5 Yet another design option for a cuff 18 a washing machine. Also this cuff 18 is here with Abweisemitteln in the form of knobs 19 provided, with the nubs 19 in this case than from a collar 20 the cuff 18 extending fins are configured. These pimples 19 extend axially in the direction of a presently indicated only drum 1 and have an elliptical cross-section. About this elliptical cross section are pieces of laundry, which in the area between the laundry drum 1 and the cuff 18 arrive, when hitting the pimples 19 rejected and in the direction of the laundry drum 1 conveyed back. The knobs must be made sufficiently stiff so as not to buckle upon impact of the laundry, which may otherwise lead to wedging the laundry between sleeve 18 and laundry drum 1 would lead. A design of the nubs 19 but is generally only suitable for washing machines that rotate almost exclusively in one direction.

By means of the embodiments of a washing machine according to the invention, it is thus possible, on the one hand, to prevent laundry from getting into the area between the cuff and the laundry drum and, on the other hand, to prevent adhesion to the cuff of laundry which has nevertheless reached this area and their immediate return to cause an interior of the laundry drum. In this case, the modifications according to the invention to the laundry drum and cuff can be used alternatively or additionally to one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

washing drum

2

cuff

3

annular gap

4

Side wall

5

radial extent

6

opening

7

inner space

8th

cuff ring

9

collar

10

Trommelfalz

11

surface section

12

cuff

13

collar

14

radial extent

15

burl

16

axial heel

17

burl

18

cuff

19

burl

20

collar

Claims (10)

From the front loadable Wäschepflegemaschine, with a recorded in a machine housing and a rotatable laundry drum (1) having tub, which has a oriented toward a loading and unloading of the machine housing feed opening, wherein the feed opening and the loading and unloading via an intermediate sleeve (2; 12; 18) are connected, which defines an annular gap (3) on the part of the laundry drum (1) via a radial extension (5) together with a side wall (4) of the laundry drum (1), characterized in that one of the annular gap (3) facing surface of the radial extent (5) and / or the annular gap (3) facing surface of the side wall (4) at least in the region of an opening (6) of the laundry drum (1) is provided with Abweisemitteln which an attaching laundry to the annular gap (3) prevent. Laundry care after Claim 1 , characterized in that the deflecting means are formed by a Sliding friction of the laundry at the annular gap (3) facing surface of the radial extent (5) at least in the region of the opening (6) is lower than a sliding friction of the laundry on the annular gap (3) facing surface of the side wall (4). Laundry care after Claim 2 , characterized in that the annular gap (3) facing surface of the side wall (4) is roughened at least in the region of the opening (6). Laundry care after Claim 2 , characterized in that on the the annular gap (3) facing surface of the side wall (4) and at least in the region of the opening (6) has a friction-increasing structure is impressed. Laundry care after Claim 2 , characterized in that a material with a low coefficient of sliding friction is applied to the sleeve (2; 12; 18) at least on the part of the annular gap (3) or the sleeve (2; 12; 18) consists of this at least on the part of the annular gap (3) , Laundry care after Claim 1 , characterized in that the deflecting means comprise surface structures which are arranged on the annular gap (3) facing surface of the radial extent (5) and extending in the axial direction in the annular gap (3). Laundry care after Claim 6 , characterized in that the surface structures by nubs (15; 17; 19) are formed, which on a circumference of the annular gap (3) facing surface of the radial extent (5) and in the radial direction inwardly oriented slopes have. Laundry care after Claim 7 , characterized in that the nubs (15; 17) each have a pyramid-like contour. Laundry care after Claim 1 , characterized in that the deflecting means are provided on the part of the sleeve (2; 12; 18) on a collar (9; 13; 20) of the sleeve (2; 12; 18) facing the annular gap (3). Laundry care after Claim 1 , characterized in that the deflecting means are provided on the part of the washing drum (1) on a drum fold (10).

Images