WO2014102314A1

WO2014102314A1 - A laundry washing and drying machine comprising a dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2014102314A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/078039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yavuz Sahin; Burcu YAKARTAS; Fatih KASAP
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-12-28
Filing date: 2013-12-27
Publication date: 2014-07-03
Also published as: EP2938771A1; EP2938771B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprising a body (2), a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be washed or dried is placed, a dispenser (4) disposed inside the body (2), wherein the cleaning agents are placed, a condenser (5) that provides the condensation of the processing air (PA) and a cooling air circulation conduit (6) wherein the cooling air (CA) that enables the condenser (5) to be cooled circulates, wherein a drying conduit (7) is provided which is situated on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) and at the outlet of the condenser (5) with respect to the flow direction of the cooling air (CA), and which enables the cooling air (CA) leaving the condenser (5) to be delivered at least partially to the dispenser (4).

Description

A LAUNDRY WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE COMPRISING A DISPENSER

The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a dispenser wherein the cleaning agents are placed.

In laundry washing and drying machines, the cleaning agents like the detergent, softener etc. required for the cleaning process are placed into a dispenser. The wash water received from the mains is directed into the dispenser. The cleaning agent dissolved-melted by mixing with water is delivered into the washing tub together with the water. The cleaning agent dispensers mostly have partitions wherein powder and/or liquid washing agent is placed and comprises a distributor that covers the dispenser and provides the water received from the mains to pass into the dispenser. Dirt forms on the partition and the distributor in the course of time since the said partitions and the distributor remain wet after washing. The dirt that builds up causes mold formation if not cleaned and this situation is unfavorable in terms of hygiene. Furthermore, these components staying wet causes the washing agent used in the next washing to become damp and lumped thereby it becomes difficult for it to be delivered into the washing tub by mixing with the washing water.

In state of the art dispensers, resistant heaters are disposed inside the cleaning agent dispenser, enabling the cleaning agent dispenser to be heated and dried in order to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.

In the state of the art International patent application no. WO2012089456, a drawer is described which is dried by pumping air therein by means of an air pump.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a cleaning agent dispenser which has more hygienic utilization conditions.

The laundry washing and drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a drying conduit that at least partially delivers the cooling air (CA) passing through the condenser to the dispenser.

The cooling air (CA) passed over the condenser has the ideal dryness and temperature levels at the exit of the condenser. The cooling air, heated while passing through the condenser by means of the drying conduit that is disposed on the cooling air (CA) circulation conduit and that extends to the dispenser, is delivered to the dispenser, thus enabling the dispenser to be dried.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling air (CA) circulation conduit transfers a portion of the cooling air (CA) leaving the condenser to the outside environment air. The cooling air (CA) that passes over the condenser is transferred to the outside environment air partially by the cooling air circulation conduit. The hot cooling air, transferred partially to the drying conduit and partially to the outside environment, not being entirely transferred to the drying conduit prevents the dispenser from being damaged by the pressure and temperature of the cooling air (CA).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine comprises a valve disposed on the cooling air (CA) circulation conduit or the drying conduit, having an open position (O) whereat the cooling air (CA) is enabled to pass at least partially through the drying conduit, and a closed position (C) whereto the valve is changed from the open position (O) and furthermore comprises a control unit that enables the valve to change position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit enables the valve to be changed to the closed position (C) according to the predetermined limit values (∆V) depending on the drying or the washing program. Before operating the laundry washing and drying machine, the user, can decide that the laundry washing and drying machine performs drying (like combed cotton, toweling, polar etc.) or washing (prewashing, main washing, rinsing, disinfection etc.) at the desired program. The washing or drying program can be selected automatically by the laundry washing and drying machine. Predetermined limit values (∆V) related to each program are saved in the control unit. Thus, the valve is activated at different limit values in different programs.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine comprises at least one sensor disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit or the drying conduit and measuring the cooling air temperature (T₁) and the control unit changes the valve to the open (O) or closed position (C) depending on the temperature data (T₁) received from the sensor. When the temperature data received from the sensor reaches the limit temperature value (∆T) predetermined by the manufacturer, the hot cooling air is provided to be transferred to the drying conduit by the valve being changed to the open position (O). The valve is changed from the open position (O) to the closed position (C) by the control unit at the end of the limit time (∆t) predetermined by the manufacturer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine comprises at least one sensor disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit or the drying conduit and measuring the cooling air pressure (P₁) and the control unit changes the valve to the open (O) or closed position (C) depending on the pressure data (P₁) received from the sensor. When the pressure data (P₁) received from the sensor reaches the limit pressure value (∆P) predetermined by the manufacturer, the hot cooling air is provided to be transferred to the drying conduit by the valve being changed to the open position (O). The valve is changed from the open position (O) to the closed position (C) by the control unit at the end of the limit time (∆t) predetermined by the manufacturer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine comprises at least one heater (such as electrical, thermoelectric, infrared etc.) disposed on the drying conduit. In the situation where the temperature (T_H) of the cooling air (CA) passing through condenser is lower than the limit temperature value (∆T) predetermined by the manufacturer, the heater is changed to an active mode (A) by the control unit, wherein the cooling air is heated. The heater is kept at the passive mode by the control unit while the cooling air temperature (T_H) is at the limit temperature value (∆T) or higher.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine comprises at least one fan disposed on the drying conduit. In the situation where the pressure (P_H) of the cooling air (CA) passing through the condenser is lower than the limit pressure value (∆P) predetermined by the manufacturer, the fan is changed to an active mode (A) by the control unit, wherein the cooling air (CA) is heated. The fan is kept at the passive mode (P) by the control unit if the cooling air pressure (P_H) is lower than the limit pressure value (∆P).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser comprises at least two partitions. The drying conduit provides a separate outlet for each partition. The cooling air (CA) transferred into the dispenser is provided to be dispersed homogeneously inside the dispenser by means of the drying conduit having a separate connection with each partition located in the dispenser. Consequently, the dispenser is dried more effectively.

By means of the present invention, the cleaning agent dispenser is prevented from staying wet and problems originating from dampening are prevented. Thus, more healthy utilization conditions are provided for the user.

The model embodiments relating to the laundry washing and drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figure, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a drying conduit in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figure are numbered as follows:

Laundry washing and drying machine
Body
Drum
Dispenser
Condenser
Cooling air circulation conduit
Drying conduit
Valve
Control unit
Heater
Fan
Partition
Sensor

The laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises

a body (2),
a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be washed or dried is placed,
a dispenser (4) disposed inside the body (2), wherein the cleaning agents are placed,
a condenser (5) providing the condensation of the processing air (PA) that enables the laundry inside the drum (3) to be dried,
and a cooling air circulation conduit (6) wherein the cooling air (CA) that provides the cooling of the condenser (5) circulates.

In the laundry washing and drying machines (1) the water received from the mains during washing the laundry is delivered to the dispenser (4). The cleaning agents placed into the dispenser (4) are mixed with water and delivered to the drum (3).

In the laundry washing and drying machine (1), the drying process is performed by the interaction of the cooling air (CA) and the processing air (PA) that do not directly contact one another. The processing air (PA) is heated by a heater and directed into the drum (3), which then removes the moisture on the laundry by contacting the damp laundry and is transferred to the condenser (5) to be dehumidified. Meanwhile, the cooling air (CA) is delivered onto the condenser (5) by means of a fan and thus, the moisture in the processing air (PA) is provided to be condensed by cooling the condenser (5). The processing air (PA), after being dehumidified on the condenser (5), is heated by the heater and is delivered to the drum (3) by being included again into the drying cycle at high temperature and with low relative humidity rate. In the laundry washing and drying machines (1), the heated air is directed into the drum (3) containing the items desired to be dried and is sucked to be included again in the heating cycle (Figure 1).

The laundry washing and drying machine (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises a drying conduit (7)

that is situated on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) and at the outlet of the condenser (5) with respect to the flow direction of the cooling air (CA) and
that enables the cooling air (CA) leaving the condenser (5) to be delivered at least partially to the dispenser (4).

The cooling air (CA) passed over the condenser (5) has the ideal dryness and temperature levels at the exit of the condenser (5). The cooling air (CA), heated while passing through the condenser (5) by means of the drying conduit (7) that is situated on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) and that extends to the dispenser (4), is delivered to the dispenser (4), thus enabling the dispenser (4) to be dried.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the cooling air (CA) leaving the condenser (5) is delivered over the dispenser (4) by means of the drying conduit (7) and the remaining portion is delivered to the outside environment by means of the cooling air circulation conduit (6).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises a valve (8) disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) or the drying conduit (7), having an open position (O) wherein the cooling air (CA) is enabled to pass at least partially through the drying conduit (7), and a closed position (C) whereto the valve (8) is changed from the open position (O) and furthermore comprises a control unit (9) that enables the valve (8) to change position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (9) enables the valve (8) to be changed to the closed position (C) according to the predetermined limit values (∆V) depending on the drying or the washing program. Before operating the laundry washing and drying machine (1), the user can decide that the laundry washing and drying machine (1) performs drying (combed cotton, toweled, polar etc.) or washing (prewashing, main washing, rinsing, disinfection etc.) at the desired program. The washing or drying program can also be selected automatically by the laundry washing and drying machine (1). Predetermined limit values (∆V) related to each program are saved in the control unit (9). Thus, the valve (8) is activated at different limit values in different programs.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises at least one sensor (13) disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) or the drying conduit (7) and measuring the cooling air temperature (T₁) and the control unit (9) changes the valve (8) to the open (O) or closed (C) position depending on the temperature data (T₁) received from the sensor (13). When the temperature data (T₁) received from the sensor (13) reaches the limit temperature value (∆T) predetermined by the manufacturer, the hot cooling air (CA) is provided to be transferred to the drying conduit (7) by the valve (8) being changed to the open position (O). The valve (8) is changed from the open position (O) to the closed position (C) by the control unit (9) at the end of the limit time (∆ʈ) predetermined by the manufacturer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises at least one sensor (13) disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) or the drying conduit (7) and measuring the cooling air pressure (P₁) and the control unit (9) changes the valve (8) to the open (O) or closed (C) position depending on the pressure data (P₁) received from the sensor (13). When the pressure data (P₁) received from the sensor (13) reaches the limit pressure value (∆P) predetermined by the manufacturer, the hot cooling air (CA) is provided to be transferred to the drying conduit (7) by the valve (8) being changed to the open position (O). The valve (8) is changed from the open position (O) to the closed position (C) by the control unit (9) at the end of the limit time (∆ʈ) predetermined by the manufacturer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises at least one heater (10) disposed on the drying conduit (7). In the situation where the temperature (T_H) of the cooling air (CA) passing through the condenser (5) is lower than the limit temperature value (∆T) predetermined by the manufacturer, the heater (10) is changed to an active mode (A) by the control unit (9), wherein the cooling air (CA) is heated. The heater (10) is kept at the passive mode (P) by the control unit (9) while the cooling air (CA) temperature (T_H) is at the limit temperature value (∆T) or higher.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises at least one fan (11) disposed on the drying conduit (7). In the situation where the pressure (P_H) of the cooling air (CA) is lower than the limit pressure value (∆P) predetermined by the manufacturer, the fan (11) is changed to an active mode (A) by the control unit (9), wherein the cooling air (CA) is heated. The fan (11) is kept at the passive mode (P) by the control unit (9) if the cooling air (CA) pressure (P_H) is lower than the limit pressure value (∆P).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser (4) comprises at least two partitions (12). The drying conduit (7) provides a separate outlet for each partition (12). The cooling air (CA) transferred into the dispenser (4) is provided to be dispersed homogeneously inside the dispenser (4) by means of the drying conduit (7) having a separate connection with each partition (12) located in the dispenser (4). Consequently, the dispenser (4) is dried more effectively (Figure 1, Figure 2).

By means of the present invention, the dispenser (4) is prevented from staying wet and more hygienic utilization conditions are provided.

Claims

A laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprising

- a body (2)_,

- a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be washed or dried is placed,

- a dispenser (4) disposed inside the body (2), wherein the cleaning agents are placed,

- a condenser (5) providing the condensation of the processing air (PA) that enables the laundry inside the drum (3) to be dried,

- a cooling air circulation conduit (6) wherein the cooling air (CA) that enables the condenser (5) to be cooled circulates,

characterized in that a drying conduit (7)

- that is situated on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) and at the outlet of the condenser (5) with respect to the flow direction of the cooling air (CA) and

- that enables the cooling air (CA) leaving the condenser (5) to be delivered at least partially to the dispenser (4).
A laundry washing and drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the cooling air circulation conduit (6) enables provides the cooling air (CA) leaving the condenser (5) to be partially mixed with the outside environment air.
A laundry washing and drying machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a valve (8) disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) or the drying conduit (7), having an open position (O) wherein the cooling air (CA) is enabled to pass at least partially through the drying conduit (7), and a closed position (C) whereto the valve (8) is changed from the open position (O) and in that a control unit (9) that enables the valve (8) to change position.
A laundry drying and washing machine (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (9) that enables the valve (8) to be changed to the closed position (C) according to the predetermined limit values (∆V) depending on the drying or the washing program.
A laundry drying and washing machine (1) as in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one sensor (13) disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) or the drying conduit (7) and measuring the cooling air temperature (T₁) and in that the control unit (9) that changes the valve (8) to the open (O) or closed (C) position depending on the temperature data (T₁) received from the sensor (13).
A laundry drying and washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least one sensor (13) disposed on the cooling air circulation conduit (6) or the drying conduit (7) and measuring the cooling air pressure (P₁) and in that the control unit (9) that changes the valve (8) to the open (O) or closed (C) position depending on the pressure data (P₁) received from the sensor (13).
A laundry drying and washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that at least one heater (10) disposed on the drying conduit (7).
A laundry drying and washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that at least one fan (11) disposed on the drying conduit (7).
A laundry drying and washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the dispenser (4) comprising at least two partitions (12) and the drying conduit (7) that provides a separate outlet for each partition (12).