WO2014075848A1

WO2014075848A1 - A laundry washing and/or drying machine with a steam generator

Info

Publication number: WO2014075848A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/070920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Can Sar; Umit Gulbay; Levent Cinar
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-11-13
Filing date: 2013-10-08
Publication date: 2014-05-22
Also published as: EP2920347B1; EP2920347A1; ES2606358T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) comprising a body (2), a steam generator (3) situated in the body (2) and generating steam to be delivered into the washing tub, a receptacle (4) situated inside or in vicinity of the steam generator (3) and wherein liquid is accumulated to be used in the steam generator (3), an opening (5) arranged on the body (2) and wherein the condensation tank, the detergent dispenser, etc. are placed, a funnel (6) situated in the body (2), accessed by means of the opening (5) and into which the liquid is delivered, and a hose (7) providing the liquid in the funnel (6) to be transferred to the receptacle (4). A cover is placed onto the funnel, whereby the cover has an open position (0) and a closed position (C), that extends from the funnel (6) toward the opening (5) in the open position (0) and that provides the liquid to be transferred to the funnel from thereover.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] A LAUNDRY WASHING AND/OR DRYING MACHINE WITH A STEAM GENERATOR

The present invention relates to a laundry washing and/or drying machine that comprises a steam generator.

In laundry washing and/or drying machines, steam generators that generate steam to send onto the laundry are used. Liquid such as water, etc. required by the steam generator is filled into a funnel situated inside the machine body by the user. The liquid filled in by the user is transferred from the funnel to a receptacle by means of a hose. The liquid accumulated in the receptacle is transferred to the steam generator to be vaporized.

In the state of the art, embodiments are known related to the path to be followed by the liquid that is being transferred to the steam generator. However, the user cannot be provided with the convenience of easily filling liquid from the outside into the funnel situated inside the machine body.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2011144453, it is disclosed that the liquid delivered to the steam generator is transferred to the funnel from the condensation tank.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry washing and/or drying machine comprising a funnel wherein the liquid to be transferred to the steam generator is easily poured.

In the laundry washing and/or drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, there is a funnel that is connected by means of a hose to a receptacle wherein the liquid to be vaporized by a steam generator in order to deliver to the washing tub is accumulated. The liquid is delivered to the funnel by means of a cover extending towards an opening that is arranged on the body. When the user brings the cover from the closed position to the open position, the cover extends from the funnel towards the opening. Thus, when the user pours liquid onto the cover, the liquid is delivered to the funnel by means of the cover.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when changed from the open position to the closed position, the cover completely covers the top of the funnel. Thus, foreign materials such as lint, hair, dust, etc. in the laundry washing and/or drying machine are prevented from entering the funnel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover is rotatably mounted on the funnel. The user brings the cover to the open and/or closed position by rotating.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover is detachably mounted on the funnel. If desired, the user can remove the cover from over the funnel, clean and replace the cover.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and/or drying machine comprises two side walls situated oppositely on the cover and allowing the liquid to flow therebetween, two holes arranged oppositely on the inner surface of the funnel, and at least two pins situated on the side wall and allowing the cover to be mounted to the holes so as to rotate around the horizontal axis. After the cover is changed from the closed position to the open position by being rotated, when the user pours liquid onto the cover, the liquid is delivered to the funnel by passing between the side walls on the cover.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and/or drying machine comprises a filter casing detachably mounted into the funnel, the cover that is placed at the upper side of the inner surfaces of the filter casing facing each other and that is mounted so as to rotate around the horizontal axis, and furthermore a filter that is situated at the base of the filter casing. The filter casing comprises two holes arranged oppositely on the inner surface thereof. The pins on the cover are placed into the holes. Thus, the cover can rotate around the horizontal axis. By means of the filter situated at the bottom of the filter casing, the liquid delivered to the hose by passing through the filter casing is filtered. The filter, the cover and the filter casing can move together as a whole. The filter casing placed into the funnel can be removed from the funnel by the user and cleaned when desired.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a guiding member that is situated on the side walls thereof so as to be between the opposite side walls. By means of the guiding member, the liquid flowing over the cover is guided towards the funnel. The guiding member extends into the funnel when the cover is in the open position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a handle that allows the cover to be moved by the user. The handle is located on the cover. When the cover is in the closed position, the handle extends outside the funnel. Thus, the user can easily grasp the handle.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening is arranged at the front and top side of the laundry washing and/or drying machine. Thus, the user can easily access the cover.

By means of the present invention, the liquid can be easily delivered to the steam generator.

The laundry washing and/or drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a laundry washing and/or drying machine.

Figure 2 – is the schematic view of a laundry washing and/or drying machine comprising a steam generator, a receptacle, a funnel and a cover.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the funnel and the cover related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the cross-sectional view of the funnel and the cover when the cover is in the closed position (C) in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the cross-sectional view of the funnel and the cover when the cover is in the open position (O) in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of the cover related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the perspective view of the filter casing related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the cover, the filter casing and the funnel related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 – is the partial cross-sectional view of the laundry washing and/or drying machine when the cover is in the open position in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 – is the partial cross-sectional view of the laundry washing and/or drying machine when the cover is in the closed position in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 – is the view of the cover and the filter casing that are taken out of the funnel related to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Laundry washing and/or drying machine
Body
Steam generator
Receptacle
Opening
Funnel
Hose
Cover
Pin
Side wall
Filter casing
Filter
Guiding member
Handle
115. Hole

The laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) comprises a body (2), a steam generator (3) situated in the body (2) and generating steam to be delivered into the washing tub, a receptacle (4) situated inside or in vicinity of the steam generator (3) and wherein liquid is accumulated to be used in the steam generator (3), an opening (5) arranged on the body (2) and wherein the condensation tank, the detergent dispenser, etc. are placed, a funnel (6) situated in the body (2), accessed by means of the opening (5) and into which the liquid is delivered, and a hose (7) providing the liquid in the funnel (6) to be transferred to the receptacle (4) (Figure 1, Figure 2).

The laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) furthermore comprises a cover (8) that is placed onto the funnel (6), that has an open position (O) and a closed position (C), that extends from the funnel (6) toward the opening (5) in the open position (O) and that provides the liquid to be transferred to the funnel (6) from thereover. The user can access the cover (8) by taking out the detergent dispenser, the condenstation tank, etc. through the opening (5). After changing the cover (8) to the open position (O), the user pours liquid onto the cover (8) by means of a pitcher, glass, etc. When the cover (8) is in the open position (O), the liquid poured onto the cover (8) by the user is transferred to the funnel (6) from over the cover (8). The cover (8) allows the user to easily transfer liquid into the funnel (6) situated in the body (2) from outside the body (2) (Figure 3, Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (8) has the closed position (C) where the top of the funnel (6) is completely covered. The cover (8) prevents foreign materials such as dust, etc. from entering the funnel (6) when in the closed position (C).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (8) is rotatably mounted on the funnel (6). Thus, the user can easily bring the cover (8) to the open position (O) or the closed position (C).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (8) is detachably mounted on the funnel (6). Thus, the user can dislodge and clean the cover (8) when desired.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (8) comprises two side walls (10) situated oppositely on the cover (8) and allowing the liquid to flow therebetween, two holes (15) arranged oppositely on the inner surface of the funnel (6), and at least two pins (9) situated on the side wall (10) and allowing the cover (8) to be mounted to the holes (15) so as to rotate around the horizontal axis (A). After the cover (8) is changed from the closed position (C) to the open position (O) by being rotated, when the user pours liquid onto the cover (8), the liquid is delivered to the funnel (6) by passing between the side walls (10) on the cover (8) (Figure 6, Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) comprises a filter casing (11) detachably mounted into the funnel (6), the cover (8) that is placed at the upper side of the inner surfaces of the filter casing (11) facing each other and that is mounted so as to rotate around the horizontal axis (A), and furthermore a filter (12) that is situated at the base of the filter casing (11). The filter casing (11) comprises two holes (115) arranged oppositely on the inner surface thereof. The pins (9) on the cover (8) are placed into the holes (115). Thus, the cover (8) can rotate around the horizontal axis (A). By means of the filter (12) situated at the bottom of the filter casing (11), the liquid delivered to the hose (7) by passing through the filter casing (11) is filtered. The filter (12), the cover (8) and the filter casing (11) can move together in an integrated manner. The filter casing (11) placed into the funnel (6) can be dislodged from the funnel (6) by the user and cleaned when desired (Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 11).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (8) comprises a guiding member (13) that extends between the side walls (10) and that provides the liquid passing over the cover (8) to be guided towards the funnel (6) when the cover (8) is in the open position (O). Thus, the liquid that hits the guiding member (13) while flowing over the cover (8) is guided into the funnel (6).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (8) comprises a handle (14) that allows the cover (8) to be changed to the open (O) or closed (C) position by the user and that extends outside the funnel (6) when the cover (8) is in the closed position (C). The user can rotate the cover (8) by holding the handle (14). With the handle (14) being outside the funnel (6) when the cover (8) is in the closed position (C), the user is enabled to easily grasp the handle (14).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening (5) is arranged at the front and top side of the laundry washing and/or drying machine (1). Thus, the user can access the cover (8) more easily.

In the laundry washing and/or drying machine (1), by means of a cover (8) extending from the funnel (6) into the opening (5), the liquid can be easily transferred into the funnel (6).

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) comprising a body (2), a steam generator (3) situated in the body (2) and generating steam to be delivered into the washing tub, a receptacle (4) situated inside or in vicinity of the steam generator (3) and wherein liquid is accumulated to be used in the steam generator (3), an opening (5) arranged on the body (2) and wherein the condensation tank, the detergent dispenser, etc. are placed, a funnel (6) situated in the body (2), accessed by means of the opening (5) and into which the liquid is delivered, and a hose (7) providing the liquid in the funnel (6) to be transferred to the receptacle (4),

characterized by a cover (8) that is placed onto the funnel (6), that has an open position (O) and a closed position (C), that extends from the funnel (6) toward the opening (5) in the open position (O) and that provides the liquid to be transferred to the funnel (6) from thereover.
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the cover (8) that has the closed position (C) where the top of the funnel (6) is completely covered.
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the cover (8) that is rotatably mounted to the funnel (6).
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by the cover (8) that is detachably mounted to the funnel (6).
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by two side walls (10) situated oppositely on the cover (8) and allowing the liquid to flow therebetween, two holes (15) arranged oppositely on the inner surface of the funnel (6), and at least two pins (9) situated on the side wall (10) and allowing the cover (8) to be mounted to the holes (15) so as to rotate around the horizontal axis (A).
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a filter casing (11) detachably mounted into the funnel (6), by the cover (8) that is placed at the upper side of the inner surfaces of the filter casing (11) facing each other and that is mounted so as to rotate around the horizontal axis (A), and by a filter (12) that is situated at the base of the filter casing (11).
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a guiding member (13) that extends between the side walls (10) and that provides the liquid passing over the cover (8) to be guided towards the funnel (6) when the cover (8) is in the open position (O).
A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a handle (14) that is situated on the cover (8), that allows the cover (8) to be changed to the open (O) or closed (C) position by the user and that extends outside the funnel (6) when the cover (8) is in the closed position (C).
A laundry washing and drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the opening (5) that is situated at the front and top side of the laundry washing and/or drying machine (1).