METHOD FOR A SANITIZING TREATMENT OF TEXTILES IN A WASHING MACHINE, DEVICE, WASHING MACHINE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

Abstract

A method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, including a step of receiving an end signal, wherein the end signal represents an end of a washing programme of the washing machine. In addition, the method includes a step of reading a door contact signal, wherein the door contact signal represents a state of a door of the washing machine, and a step of providing a start option signal to a user interface if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within a predefined time period started in response to the end signal, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme.

Claims

1. A method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, wherein the method comprises the following steps: receiving an end signal, wherein the end signal represents an end of a washing programme of the washing machine; reading a door contact signal, wherein the door contact signal represents a state of a door of the washing machine; and providing a start option signal to a user interface if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within a predefined time period started in response to the end signal, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of reading, the door contact signal is read via a door interface to a door contact sensor arranged on the door.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising a step of setting the time period using a setting signal, which represents a duration of the time period set via the user interface.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising a step of outputting a start signal for starting the hygiene rinse programme in response to a confirmation signal read via the user interface, wherein the confirmation signal represents a selection made by the user to start the hygiene rinse programme.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, in the step of outputting, the start signal for starting the hygiene rinse programme is output in the form of an additional rinse cycle according to the washing programme or in the form of a water-reduced rinse cycle.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising a step of adjusting a sequence of the hygiene rinse cycle using a washing programme signal, which represents programme information on the washing programme.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of receiving, the end signal represents an end of a crease protection programme.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of providing, the start option signal is provided to the user interface, which is arranged on the washing machine and/or on a mobile device.

9. An apparatus configured to perform the steps of the method according to claim 1 in corresponding units.

10. A washing machine with a hygiene rinse programme and an apparatus according to claim 9.

11. A computer programme product with programme code for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the computer programme product is executed on an apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] An embodiment of the disclosure is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the following description of favourable exemplary embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference signs are used for the elements shown in the various figures and acting similarly, wherein a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a washing machine 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The washing machine 100 comprises an apparatus 105 for controlling a method for the hygienic treatment of textiles 110 after a washing programme carried out in the washing machine 100. For this purpose, the apparatus 105 is designed to receive an end signal 115, which can be provided, merely by way of example, by a control device 120 and represents the end of a washing programme of the washing machine. In another exemplary embodiment, the end signal can also represent an end of a crease protection programme downstream of the actual washing programme.

[0027] Optionally, the control device 120 is also designed to provide a washing programme signal 125 to the apparatus 105. Merely by way of example, the washing programme signal 125 provides programme information about a selected washing programme. Such programme information comprises, for example, the selected temperature, additionally selected extras, the amount of laundry or the programme duration of the wash cycle.

[0028] The apparatus 105 is designed to read a door contact signal 130 via a door interface 135 as a result of the end signal 115 in order to detect or monitor a closed state of a door 140 of the washing machine 100. Merely by way of example, the door contact signal 130 in this exemplary embodiment can be provided by a door contact sensor 145, which is arranged on the door 140. In addition, in one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 105 comprises a counter 150, which is designed to, merely by way of example, count a predefined time period in response to the end signal 115. In one exemplary embodiment, the setting signal 155 represents the duration of the time period to be waited. This duration is, merely by way of example, specified by a user via a user interface 165 arranged on a mobile device 160. In another exemplary embodiment, the user interface can also be arranged directly on the washing machine.

[0029] In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile device 160 is a smartphone on which an app for controlling the washing machine 100 is stored. Merely by way of example, in another exemplary embodiment, it can also be a tablet, a laptop or a similar mobile device.

[0030] In this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 105 is designed to provide a start option signal 175 to the user interface 165 if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal 130 within the predefined time period started in response to the end signal 115. A selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme can be provided for a user by means of the start option signal 175. As a result of a selection made by the user to start the hygiene rinse programme, the apparatus 105 in this exemplary embodiment is designed to read a confirmation signal 180 representing this selection and, in response to the confirmation signal 180, to provide a start signal 185, merely by way of example, to the control device 120. Merely by way of example, the start signal 120 represents the start of the hygiene rinse programme in the form of a water-reduced rinse cycle, which can also be referred to as Spin & Spray. In another exemplary embodiment, an additional rinse cycle according to the previously terminated washing programme is started using the start signal.

[0031] Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, in the event that the laundry was subjected to a longer dwell time in the washing machine 100 after the programme end, a downstream process is automatically added and can be carried out or acknowledged by the operator. The programme end can be clearly defined by the washing machine by adding, merely by way of example, 30-minute crease protection after termination of the programme. Via a door contact of the door contact sensor 145, it can be determined whether the load has been removed or is still located in the washing machine 100. If the door contact did not signal a door opening during the one defined time period, which is, merely by way of example, a time period of less than two hours, the automatic hygiene rinse is offered. This function can be controlled by the user directly on the washing machine 100 or via the app. The downstream process of the hygiene rinse is based, merely by way of example, on the terminated washing programme. Depending on the settings, such as programme, options and extras, and the information from the process, such as amount of laundry, loading stage, water consumption and energy consumption, number of rinse cycles, residual moisture and programme duration, the downstream hygiene rinse is adjusted in terms of process engineering. In this case, merely by way of example, a distinction is made between an additional rinse cycle, which adequately corresponds to the rinse of the completed programme, or a simple so-called Spin & Spray rinse cycle with resource-saving use of water.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 200 for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine. In this exemplary embodiment, the method 200 comprises a step 205 of setting a time period using a setting signal, which represents a duration of the time period set via a user interface. In this case, the duration is, merely by way of example, set individually by a user and specifies a time period between an end of a washing programme and a provision of a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse cycle. In addition, the method 200 comprises a step 210 of receiving an end signal, wherein the end signal represents an end of a washing programme of the washing machine, and a step 215 of reading a door contact signal, wherein the door contact signal represents a state of a door of the washing machine.

[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, the method 200 optionally comprises a step 220 of adjusting a sequence of the hygiene rinse cycle using a washing programme signal, wherein the washing programme signal represents programme information on the washing programme. In the representation shown here, the step 220 of adjusting takes place, merely by way of example, after the step 215 of reading and, in another exemplary embodiment, can also already be carried out before the step 215 of reading or after one of the following steps.

[0034] In this exemplary embodiment, a step 225 of providing a start option signal to a user interface follows the optional step 220 of adjusting, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme. This step is carried out under the precondition that no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within the time period defined in step 205 and started in response to the end signal.

[0035] Merely by way of example, the method 200 also comprises a step of outputting a start signal for starting the hygiene rinse programme in response to a confirmation signal read via the user interface, wherein the confirmation signal represents a selection made by the user to start the hygiene rinse programme.