WASHING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

A washing machine has a rotatable drum in a drum-receiving container with an outlet, a pump with integrated heating device, an injector on the drum-receiving container, a water circuit with several water pipes, wherein at least one water pipe runs from the outlet from the drum-receiving container to the pump, and at least one water pipe runs from the pump to the injector, and a water reservoir between the outlet and pump which is connected to the water pipe from the outlet to the pump. An outlet valve is provided in the water pipe from the outlet from the drum-receiving container to the pump. A pump valve is also provided which is connected to a water pipe with a pump outlet and has an output to a water outlet from the washing machine.

Claims

1. A washing machine with: a rotatable drum for receiving laundry, a drum-receiving container around said drum, which comprises an outlet from said drum-receiving container, a pump for pumping liquid, wherein said pump comprises an integrated heating device, an injector on said drum-receiving container for introducing water into said drum onto laundry arranged therein, wherein said injector is arranged higher in a vertical direction than said pump, a water circuit comprising several water pipes, wherein at least one said water pipe runs from said outlet from said drum-receiving container to said pump, and at least one said water pipe runs from said pump to said injector, a water reservoir between said outlet and said pump, wherein said water reservoir is connected to said water pipe from said outlet from said drum-receiving container to said pump, or is arranged in said water pipe, wherein an outlet valve is provided in said water pipe from said outlet from said drum-receiving container to said pump, a pump valve is provided being connected to a water pipe with said pump outlet, wherein said pump valve has an output to a water outlet from said washing machine.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water reservoir is arranged closer to said pump than to said outlet from said drum-receiving container.

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water reservoir has pressure-balancing means, or an opening in an upper region, or a pressure-balancing container being fluid-conductively connected to said water reservoir and having a flexible wall.

4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pump valve is arranged in said water pipe from said pump to said injector and has an output to said injector.

5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pump valve is arranged at a height level in said vertical direction being higher than half a height in said vertical direction between said pump and said injector.

6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pump valve is a three-way valve with one input and two outputs, wherein one said output of said three-way valve runs to said water outlet from said washing machine, and wherein said input runs to said pump.

7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said injector is arranged at a vertical height of at least an upper third of said drum.

8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water reservoir has a volume which is greater than a volume of said water pipes and said pump between said water reservoir and a valve arranged in said water pipe between said pump and said injector.

9. The washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pump valve is arranged in said water pipe between said pump and said injector.

10. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water outlet from said washing machine leaves from said water reservoir directly without interposition of said pump or of a pump with a water pipe and with a valve device on said water reservoir.

11. A method for operating a washing machine as claimed in claim 1, said method having the following steps: a water volume in said water said is pumped by said pump from said water reservoir into said water pipe between said pump and said injector up to a predefined limit water volume, and during this process is being heated, then said previously pumped water volume is returned via said pump into said water reservoir, repeating of the steps of pumping and heating and returning for a specific time period, a specific number of repetitions, or until a desired predefined temperature for said water is reached, subsequent pumping of said heated water by means of said water pipe to said injector and injection of said heated water through said injector into said drum onto laundry placed therein.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of returning said previously pumped water volume into said water reservoir via said pump is performed without pumping operation of said pump.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of returning said previously pumped water volume into said water reservoir via said pump is performed with operation of said heating device of said pump with reduced heating power.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein during said multiple performance of said pumping step and/or during introduction of said heated water into said drum, no water is introduced into said water reservoir from said outside.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a temperature detection of said water takes place at said pump and/or at said water circuit, wherein a temperature detection at said water circuit takes place downstream of said pump and upstream of said injector.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said drum is not moved during repetition of said steps of pumping and heating and return of said water until after injection of said heated water via said injector into said drum onto laundry placed therein.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said drum is rotated by maximum half a revolution or by at least two revolutions after injection of said heated water via said injector.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said heated water is pumped from said water reservoir as completely as possible by said pump with said intake of further water into said water reservoir, wherein said pumping continues until said temperature detection shows that said temperature has fallen below a limit temperature, in order to avoid said water below said limit temperature being injected into said drum.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said water remaining in said water circuit downstrem of said pump is returned into said water reservoir by stopping said pumping operation, and then is repeatedly pumped by said pump into said water circuit and during said process said water is heated.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said water reservoir has a filter and said heated water returned into said water reservoir passes through said filter.

21. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said outlet valve is configured such that it can be opened to allow air with positive pressure to enter or escape, but not water.

22. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein washing agent and/or other additives for washing laundry are introduced into said water reservoir.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein washing agent and/or other additives for washing laundry are introduced into said water reservoir by means of a dosing device from a respective storage container inside said washing machine.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein water with washing agent and/or other additives dissolved therein is pumped repeatedly by said pump into said water pipe to said pump valve and returned into said water reservoir for mixing or dissolving of said washing agent and/or other said additives with said water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted schematically in the drawings and explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

[0036] FIG. 1 a simplified schematic illustration of a washing machine according to the invention with water circuit with a drum-receiving container, via a valve, a water reservoir, a pump, and a further valve, to an injector at the top of the drum-receiving container,

[0037] FIG. 2 the illustration from FIG. 1 showing different volumes in the water circuit and a path for shuttling a specific water volume,

[0038] FIG. 3 a derivative of the illustration from FIG. 1 with a valve and a water pipe towards the outside,

[0039] FIG. 4 a further derivative of the washing machine from FIG. 3 with a further reservoir for water upstream of the actual water reservoir, and

[0040] FIG. 5 an illustration of the overall structure of a washing machine according to the invention, and to illustrate steps of the method according to the invention for operating such a washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a washing machine 11 according to the invention with a rotatable drum 13 in which laundry W is present, here shown as a single laundry item W. Carriers 14 may be arranged on the inside of the drum. The drum 13 is rotatably mounted in a drum-receiving container 15, here with a horizontal rotational axis. At the bottom, a sump pipe 17 as a water pipe leads from an outlet 16 from the drum-receiving container 15 via a valve V1 to a water reservoir 20. A further pump pipe 22a leads from this water reservoir 20 to a pump 24. This pump 24 is configured as explained in relation to the prior art outlined initially, for example according to DE 102011003467 A1, advantageously as an impeller pump. It has an integrated heating device 25 which is here illustrated highly diagrammatically. The heating device 25 serves to heat water conveyed by the pump, in particular in the pump chamber, for which advantageously it is itself arranged in the pump chamber or on a wall of the pump chamber.

[0042] From the pump 24, a further pump pipe 22b leads to a three-way valve as a pump valve V2. In the one valve position, water can travel from the pump 24 or the pump pipe 22b to a water outlet 27, which leads out of the washing machine 11 and for example runs into a drainage connection in a utility room, advantageously by means of a conventional flexible hose. Via the water outlet 27, water can be extracted or discharged from the washing machine 11.

[0043] In another position, water passes from the pump pipe 22b via a supply pipe 29 to an injector 31. The injector 31 is arranged at the highest point of the drum-receiving container 15 and is configured such that it does not protrude directly into the rotatable drum 13, but in the known fashion can deliver or spray or inject water F through the openings made therein onto the laundry W arranged in said drum. Reference is made for this to the prior art which shows this sufficiently well.

[0044] At the top left on the drum-receiving container 15, a washing agent container 33 is arranged from which washing agent or other additives for a washing process can be introduced via a water pipe 34 and a dosing valve V3 into the drum-receiving container 15 or onto the laundry W in the drum 13, alternatively also by means of a nozzle (not shown). In a further alternative which will be explained below with reference to FIG. 4, washing agent may either be introduced into the lowest region of the drum-receiving container 15 shortly in front of the outlet 16, or into the sump pipe 17, so that it is first mixed with or dissolved in the water before being applied to the laundry W.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the same washing machine 11 again, but the sake of the clarity with significantly fewer reference signs. Reference is made to FIG. 1. With respect to the water circuit, it is shown that this is divided roughly into a portion in front of the pump 24 and a portion behind the pump 24. Upstream of the pump 24, a water volume WV.sub.1 is formed which comprises the water reservoir 20 and an overpressure valve 21 provided thereon as a pressure-balancing means, and the pump pipe 22a. On the right, downstream of the pump 24 or between the pump 24 and the pump valve V2, located at a higher level, is the second water volume WV.sub.2. The water volumes WV.sub.1 and WV.sub.2 are thus substantially formed by the water reservoir 20 and the pump pipe 22a on one side, and the pump pipe 22b on the other. Small volume regions in the pump 24 may be added thereto, such as for example a suction connector and/or a pressure connector. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the water volume WV.sub.1 includes the region up to the pump chamber, and the water volume WV.sub.2 includes the region behind or after the pump chamber up to the pump valve V2. The water volume WV.sub.1 may for example comprise 2 l, and the water volume WV.sub.2 0.75 l.

[0046] In the washing method according to the invention as described above, after closing the outlet valve V1 and the pump valve V2, the pump 24 can pump water from the largely or completely filled water volume WV.sub.1, in particular when the water reservoir 20 is full, into the water volume WV.sub.2 which is empty at that time. During this pumping process, the water is heated by means of the heating device 25. If 0.75 l are pumped out of the water reservoir by the pump 24, the water volume WV.sub.2 is effectively filled. The water column in the pump line 22b thus reaches to the pump valve V2 or shortly before this. Pressure-balancing means or similar (not shown here) on the pump valve V2 allow air to escape but not water. When the pump 24 can no longer pump water against the pump valve V2 which is closed to this (a situation which can be detected by various sensors or alternatively from the operating state of the drive motor of the pump 24), operation of the pump 24 is stopped. Then the pump 24 has pumped and heated approximately 0.75 l, which is considered as the limit water volume cited initially. The pump 24 can then either go into reverse operation and pump the water from the water volume WV.sub.2 back to the water reservoir 20 or into the water volume WV.sub.1. Alternatively, the water can simply flow back through the pump 24 under gravity, in particular into the pump pipe 22b located higher. Then new operation of the heating device 25 may take place, advantageously with temperature control in order to achieve neither too high a water temperature nor too high a temperature at the heating device 25 itself. The water, or above all the limit water volume corresponding to the water volume WV.sub.2, is thus now again positioned upstream of the pump 24 and in the larger water volume WV.sub.1. Advantageously, a degree of mixing takes place and hence heating of the entire water volume WV.sub.1, although naturally with overall a lower temperature than the water volume WV.sub.2 which has been heated once or twice. Then the pump 24 again pumps a limit water volume out of the water volume WV.sub.1 into the water volume WV.sub.2, wherein again heating takes place by operation of the heating device 25. When the water volume WV.sub.2 is full or has been filled, the entire water amount is then returned. This to and fro movement due to operation of the pump 24 and return of the water defines the above-mentioned shuttling movement or shuttling S of a specific water volume, namely the limit water volume. This quite generally advantageously takes place without interruption after a partial movement, so that no time is wasted, and heating takes place as quickly as possible. Temperature sensors on the pump 24, in particular on the heating device 25, or alternatively a temperature sensor 26 on the pump pipe 22b shortly behind the pump 24, can determine the temperature of the conducted water, in particular in order to check whether the water now has the desired temperature for application to the laundry W. If this is the case, the pump valve V2 is opened and the pump 24 again works in pumping mode, advantageously again together with the heating device 25. This time, water is pumped up to the injector 31 and through this onto the laundry W; advantageously, the water volume is determined by a washing machine controller (not shown here) for the washing process. Advantageously, this is not the entire water volume WV.sub.1, since this presumably would be too large, or too much water would have to be applied since the laundry W is at rest, and hence the water would effectively always be applied at the same points. A predefined water volume of for example 0.5 l to 1 l may be applied, in particular approximately 0.75 l corresponding to the water volume WV.sub.2. This water all has the desired temperature as it comes from the water reservoir 20 or from the heated water volume WV.sub.1.

[0047] Furthermore, the water volume WV.sub.1 which has been brought to the desired temperature should be so great that it corresponds approximately to the volume of WV.sub.2 plus the volume of the supply pipe 29, plus the desired water volume to be applied. Then the pump 24 does not draw in any air from the water volume WV.sub.1 before the end of application of the desired water volume. In fact no further pumping would be possible, in particular air drawn in would have to be removed in complex fashion.

[0048] The water volume WV.sub.2 need not necessarily correspond to the volume of the pump pipe 22b between the pump 24 and the pump valve V2; advantageously however, it corresponds to this to some extent or approximately. As much water can be moved or shuttled to and fro as possible in order to increase its temperature. Furthermore, the water volume WV.sub.1 should be significantly greater than the water volume WV.sub.2 plus the volume of the supply pipe 29, in order to be able to apply a correspondingly desired quantity of heated water F onto the laundry W.

[0049] After stopping pump operation, advantageously the pump valve V2 remains open, the outlet valve V1 may also be opened. Thus water runs firstly from the outlet 16 via the sump pipe 17 into the water reservoir 20 or into the water volume WV.sub.1 in order to be heated again as explained above. Furthermore, water runs from the supply pipe 29 and the pump pipe 22b through the pump 24 back into the water volume WV.sub.1. In a further possibility, further fresh water may be added, in particular via a fresh water supply pipe to the washing agent container 33 and the dosing valve V3, so that the water volume WV.sub.1 is again relatively full despite the water consumed or absorbed by the laundry W. Then operation of the pump and heating of the water as a shuttling S according to FIG. 2 resumes until the water has again been heated or warmed sufficiently. Then it is again applied by means of the injector 31 to the laundry W which has been moved slightly by a slight or multiple movement or rotation of the drum 13, so that the water can reach different regions of the laundry W.

[0050] Depending on the heating power of the heating device 25, a five-fold to ten-fold repetition of the shuttling S may be sufficient to heat the water to 30° C. to 40° C. For higher temperatures, the water must be pumped or shuttled correspondingly more often to and fro in order to be able to introduce even more heating energy.

[0051] If now washing agent is applied to the laundry W from the washing agent container 33 for the washing process following the first rinsing process, then in the above-mentioned fashion this washing agent may be introduced from the washing agent container 33 through the dosing valve V3 into the drum-receiving container 15, so that there it extends only from below up to the outlet 16 and into the sump pipe 17. Alternatively and advantageously, the dosing valve V3 however leads directly to the outlet 16 or into the sump pipe 17, for which naturally the washing agent container 33 and dosing valve V3 are arranged as close as possible thereto. The washing agent container 33 may be configured for manual addition in individual doses per washing process; alternatively, it may be a storage container with a larger quantity of washing agent and additives, from which a washing machine controller automatically adds the required or calculated quantity. Also, it could be introduced directly into the water reservoir 20 or pump pipe 22a.

[0052] Since usually the washing agent should be applied to the laundry W in heated water, wherein the temperature depends on the washing agent, now the water complete with washing agent, or water in which the washing agent or additives have been dissolved or are at least contained, is moved again to and fro by the pump 24. This serves for heating of the water with washing agent or additive, i.e. the washing liquor. Furthermore, this serves for mixing or dissolving the washing agent or additive as well as possible in the water, which should take place completely with a multiple pumping process.

[0053] Similarly to the process described above, after reaching the desired temperature for the washing liquor, this can be again applied to the laundry W by the pump 24 via the supply pipe 29 and the injector 31. This advantageously again takes place repeatedly, in particular in each case with the laundry W moved slightly by partial rotation of the drum 13. Fresh washing liquor can be produced either with fresh water and added washing agent or additive, advantageously part thereof again comes from the outlet 16 from the bottom of the drum-receiving container 15 and is then topped up with washing agent or additive and water so the water volume WV.sub.1 is again full.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a washing machine 11 with an alternative embodiment of the washing agent container. Here a washing agent pipe 33′ is provided which leads directly into the water reservoir 20 via a dosing valve V3′. This corresponds to the process described above. The washing agent pipe 33′ could also replaced by a said washing agent container or washing agent store for automatic dosing.

[0055] Alternatively, in FIG. 3, the pipe 33′ could be a further or main water outlet from the washing machine 11. The valve V3′ would then be an outlet valve, so water could drain out of the washing machine 11 at a relatively low region directly into the waste water, in some cases without the support of the pump 24.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a washing machine 111 with a drum 113 in a drum-receiving container 115, at the bottom of which an outlet 116 and sump pipe 117 and outlet valve V1 are provided. From valve V1, a short water pipe leads to a water reservoir 120 and overpressure valve 121. To the right of the water reservoir 120, a pump pipe 122a leads to a pump 124 which is configured as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. After the pump 124, a further pump pipe 122b leads to a three-way valve V2 as the pump valve. From this, a water outlet 127 leads to the right and a supply pipe 129 leads upward to the injector 131. In this respect, the washing machine 111 of FIG. 4 corresponds to that of FIG. 1. In addition, here a further container is provided as an additional reservoir 135 for water, which is fed from an additional pipe 136 coming from the left. At the top left end, an additional valve V4 is provided. A connecting valve V5 is provided in a connecting pipe 138 to the water reservoir 120, in order to be able to control a water flow between the additional reservoir 135 and the water reservoir 120.

[0057] The container or additional reservoir 135 is an option which can perform further functions for the washing machine or for a washing process. This may for example be an above-mentioned addition of washing agent or additives; alternatively, filters may be provided therein for water which is supplied into the circuit as fresh water via the additional valve V4 and the additional pipe 136. Also, to the left of the additional valve V4, a water outlet could be provided to a drainage water connection of the washing machine 111. A filter could be provided in the additional reservoir 135, which filters the water again before it is pumped out of the washing machine 111 and conducted into a waste water pipe. Here for example, filters for microfiber particles could also be provided, for which reference is made to WO 2019/081013 A1.

[0058] In a further possible advantageous use of shuttling of the water by means of the pump 24, it may be provided that this water is heated by means of the heating device 25 to a higher temperature than necessary for a washing process, for example to over 80° C. or even 90° C. Then the pump 24 could in effect be cleaned or clean itself with hot water, in particular when the water returns with reversed flow direction from pumping operation, wherein some regions in the pump 24 or in a pump chamber, pressure connector and/or suction connector can be reached better. This water need also not be used for a washing process and may then, since it probably contains contaminants from the cleaning process, be pumped out of the washing machine 11.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows again in detail the functional process of a washing method and the possibilities which result from the invention. A washing machine controller 39 is depicted which is connected to the functional units already described via signal lines indicated with dashes. The washing machine controller 39 is thus connected to the pump 24 or the heating device 25, and to a lye pump 44 which may be provided, connected firstly to the water reservoir 120 and secondly arranged upstream of a water outlet 27′ for pumping out water. Furthermore, it is connected to a valve V3 and a flow sensor 42 which is advantageously provided in the water pipe 22a, 22b and/or 34. It is also connected to an actuator 46 which acts on a water switch unit 47, which advantageously can supply fresh water in various ways to a washing agent container 33. These various supply possibilities are indicated by the three horizontal dotted arrows between the water switch unit 47 and the washing agent container 33. The washing machine controller 39 is then connected signal-transmissively to a door lock 40 and a drum drive motor 13′. Thus the washing machine controller 39 receives information about a conveyed water volume (1) from the flow sensor 42, and information about a position (2) of the water switch unit 47. The door lock 40 provides information (3) about the locking state or closing state of a door to the drum 13. Information (8) about the operating state of the pump is provided by the pump 24 or its pump motor with respect to a pumping operation of the pump 24, advantageously with respect to a pumping power or similar, in some cases similarly by the lye pump 44 which may be provided. The heating device 25 provides information (5) about the operating state of the heating device 25 or the heating mode, in some cases also about the temperature of the water, irrespective of pumping operation. This may also come from the temperature sensor 26 in FIG. 1. The drum-receiving container 15 may provide information in particular with respect to the supply pipe 29, and the drum drive motor 13′ may provide information (7) about the movement and/or rotational position of the drum 13, in some cases also with respect to the loading or type of laundry, see EP 3608466 A1. This information (7) may alternatively come from a corresponding sensor.

[0060] This information (1) to (7) is processed by the washing machine controller 39 according to the prescribed washing method. By means of the signals, for example from the door lock 40, it is ensured in the known fashion that the door cannot be opened during the washing process. The other information is used directly for performance of the washing method, in particular with respect to the addition of washing agent or additives and temperature.