Method of operating a washing machine and washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine has a suds container arranged in a housing, in which container a drum is rotatably mounted, a loading opening arranged on the front of the housing which can be closed by a door having a door inspection glass, a door sealing ring that extends between the housing and the suds container around the loading opening, and a control or regulating device. The washing machine is configured for carrying out a selected washing program including a rinsing phase and a step, in which water is applied to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring following the rinsing phase to rinse the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring. The washing machine performs a spin cycle after the rinsing phase and before applying water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring at a maximum speed as a function of the selected washing program.

Claims

1. A method for operating a washing machine having a suds container arranged in a housing, in which container a drum is rotatably mounted, a loading opening arranged on the front of the housing, which can be closed by means of a door having a door inspection glass, a door sealing ring which extends between the housing and the suds container around the loading opening, and a control or regulating device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: carrying out a selected washing program which comprises a rinsing phase and in which water is applied to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring following the rinsing phase, in order to rinse the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring, and performing a spin cycle at a maximum rotational speed as a function of the selected washing program after the rinsing phase and before applying the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring, the spin cycle completing before applying the water to the door inspection glass and door sealing ring.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: determining whether the selected washing program has a threshold load amount that exceeds a predetermined maximum load amount or is a voluminous laundry washing program and wherein the function of the selected washing program to carry out the step of performing the spin cycle after the rinsing phase and before applying the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring at the maximum rotational speed, is the function of whether the washing program has the threshold load amount that exceeds the predetermined maximum load amount or whether the washing program is the voluminous laundry washing program.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, upon determining that the washing program has a threshold load amount that is equal to or less than the predetermined maximum loading amount and is a washing program that is different from the voluminous laundry washing program, applying the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring immediately after the rinsing phase to rinse the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring, and, upon determining that the washing program has a threshold load amount that exceeds the predetermined maximum load amount or that the washing program is the voluminous laundry washing program, carrying out the spin cycle at the maximum rotational speed following the rinsing phase and then applying the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring, in order to rinse the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: sensing a load amount of laundry in the drum in an initial phase of the washing program, and performing a linear or step-by-step adjustment of the maximum rotational speed during the spin cycle as a function of the sensed load amount.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: sensing foam in the drum following the rinsing phase, and performing a linear or step-by-step adjustment of the maximum rotational speed during the spinning process as a function of the sensed foam.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drum is at a standstill while the water is applied to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following step: continuously activating a drain device for conducting the water out of the suds container at least during the spinning process at the maximum rotational speed or during the application of the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: sensing a pressure in the suds container after the rinsing phase, and activating a drain device for conducting the water out of the suds container at least during the spinning process at the maximum rotational speed or during the application of the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring upon determining that the pressure sensed in the suds container is greater than a predetermined threshold.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the water applied to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring to rinse the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring corresponds to a predetermined amount of water, which depends on at least one of the following parameters: the selected washing program, a sensed load amount, sensed foam, an amount of an automatically dosed detergent which is fed to the suds container during the washing program.

10. A washing machine having a suds container arranged in a housing, in which container a drum is rotatably mounted, a loading opening arranged at the front of the housing that can be closed by means of a door having a door inspection glass, a door sealing ring that extends between the housing and the suds container around the loading opening, and an electronic control or regulating device that is programmed to cause the washing machine to perform the following method steps: carrying out a selected washing program which comprises a rinsing phase and in which water is applied to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring following the rinsing phase, in order to rinse the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring, and performing a spin cycle after the rinsing phase and before applying the water to the door inspection glass and the door sealing ring at a maximum rotational speed as a function of the selected washing program, the spin cycle completing before applying the water to the door inspection glass and door sealing ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) In the drawings,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method according to the invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a washing machine for performing the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(4) FIG. 1 schematically shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. In step 1, a last rinsing segment of a rinsing phase of a selected washing program is carried out. Step 1 is followed by step 2, in which the method according to the invention starts. Step 2 is followed by step 3, which comprises determining whether the washing program has a threshold load amount that exceeds a predetermined maximum load amount, for example 2 kg, and/or is a voluminous laundry washing program. If yes, i.e., if it is determined that the washing program has a threshold load amount that exceeds the predetermined maximum load amount and/or is a voluminous laundry washing program, then step 3 is followed by step 4, which involves performing a spin cycle having a maximum rotational speed of 600 rpm, and step 4 is followed by step 5.

(5) If it is determined in step 3 that the washing program has a threshold load amount that is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum loading amount and a washing program that is different from any voluminous laundry washing program, then step 5 directly follows step 3. Step 5 comprises applying water to a door inspection glass and a door sealing ring of a washing machine in order to rinse them, with a drum of the washing machine being at a standstill while the water is being applied to the door inspection glass and/or the door sealing ring. Step 5 is followed by step 6, which comprises a final spin. During the final spin, to drain the laundry in the drum, the drum is rotated at a higher rotational speed than step 4, in which the laundry rests on a wall of the drum, and the water from the laundry from the fabric is thrown through openings in the drum due to centrifugal force in the suds container.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a washing machine 10 having a suds container 12 arranged in a housing 14, in which container a drum 16 is rotatably mounted, a loading opening 18 arranged at the front of the housing 14 which can be closed by means of a door 20 having a door inspection glass 22, a door sealing ring 24 which extends between the housing 14 and the suds container 12 around the loading opening 18, and a control or regulating device 26 that is designed to control or regulate a method according to one or a plurality of the described embodiments.

(7) Furthermore, the washing machine 10 preferably has a door inspection glass flusher 28. The door inspection glass flusher 28 is preferably provided in and/or on the door sealing ring. For example, the door inspection glass flusher 28 is an injection device such as a nozzle and/or an opening in a door sealing ring 24 designed as a bellows seal or as an elastic sleeve.

(8) The washing machine 10 can be a washing machine used in a private household or commercially.