Washing machine receptacle, washing machine and method for operating a washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine drawer (50) in a washing machine (11) has a drawer body (51) with several chambers including chambers (63) for filling in detergents or additives for a washing process, sensor means (71, 76, 80) in the receptacle for analyzing water transported to the sensor means and a receptacle communication module (56) for a data connection to the outside. A control device (40) of the washing machine is communicating with the receptacle communication module (56) to receive data about analysis results from the sensors for adapting a washing process. The drawer (50) may be exchangeable to provide the washing machine with more and up to date features. The drawer (50) may also have a receptacle control (54) provided with a powerful controller to overtake some functions of the washing machine (11) besides controlling the sensor means.

Claims

1. Washing machine receptacle (50, 150, 250) comprising: a receptacle body (51, 151, 251) having several chambers including chambers (63) for filling in detergents or additives for a washing process in the washing machine (11, 211), sensor means (71, 76, 80) in the receptacle for analyzing water transported to the sensor means, and a receptacle communication module (56, 160, 256) in or on the receptacle, the receptacle communication module being configured to provide a data connection to at least one component out of the receptacle.

2. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle communication module (56, 160) for the data connection provides a wireless data connection.

3. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle communication module (256) for the data connection to the outside is designed to be with a direct electrical connection.

4. Washing machine receptacle according claim 1, wherein the receptacle (50) is provided with a receptacle control device (54, 254) with a controller for controlling the sensor means (71, 76, 80) and for processing data of the sensor means.

5. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 4, wherein the receptacle control device (54, 254) has a sensor controller of its own for analyzing and/or processing data of the sensor means (71, 76, 80).

6. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein either a receptacle control device (54, 254) or a sensor controller is connected to a database for supporting the analyzing process and/or for reporting information from the analyzing process of the sensor means, the database being in a cloud connected to via internet.

7. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein operating elements (58, 159) configured for influencing operation of functional units of the receptacle (50, 150) are provided on the receptacle.

8. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the operating elements (58, 159) are configured for operation of the washing machine (11) and provided on the receptacle (50) with the exception of only a main switch (49) for the washing machine (1 1) being provided outside of the receptacle or separate from the receptacle.

9. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein on the receptacle display means (58, 159) are provided.

10. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle (150) is provided with components of a smartphone (159), at least a display and a main control board, wherein the components are connected to a receptacle control device (54, 254), and wherein the components of the smartphone (159) are arranged in the receptacle (150) such that the display of the smartphone (159) is visible from the outside.

11. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (150) is provided with an integral smartphone (159), wherein the integral smartphone (159) is connected to a receptacle control device (54, 254), and wherein the integral smartphone (159) is arranged in the receptacle (150) such that a display of the integral smartphone (159) is visible from the outside.

12. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 10, wherein a camera or an optical sensor is provided as a component of the smartphone (159), wherein the camera or the optical sensor is directed into the receptacle (50) and into a chamber (79) in the receptacle body and configured for an optical analysis in the chamber (79), wherein optical guide means are provided to guide light beams between the chamber (79) and the camera or the optical sensor.

13. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 10, wherein a part of or the smartphone (159) is the receptacle control device with a microcontroller of the part of or the smartphone being designed for performing the respective control functions of the receptacle control device.

14. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor chamber (68, 74, 79) with the sensor means (71, 76, 80) is provided in the receptacle (50) for being filled with water (81) from the drum (14) of the washing machine (1 1) for analyzing this water.

15. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the sensor means (71, 76, 80) have at least one sensor for analyzing water (81) from the drum (14), wherein the sensors are from the group of pH-sensors, temperature sensors, Bio sensors for bacteriological pollution, optical sensors, opacimeter sensors, spectrometer sensors, color change indicator sensors, tenside sensors, sedimentation analysis sensors, or any combination of these.

16. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein, in the receptacle (50), an activating means (69) is provided for treating special detergents or special additives (70) for the washing process, wherein the special detergents or special additives (70) are configured to be activated by the activation means by mechanical treatment, chemical treatment, heat activation (69), microwave radiation or UV radiation.

17. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (50, 150, 250) is at least partly movable or retractable out of a housing (12, 212) of the washing machine (11, 211).

18. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (50) has at least three separate chambers (63, 65, 68, 74, 79, 84), wherein there is provided a filtering means (66) in a filtering chamber (65), at least one sensor chamber (68, 74, 79) with a sensor means (71, 76, 80) and an outlet (52, 85) out of the receptacle or a drainage of the receptacle.

19. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein an independent and/or replaceable energy source is provided in the receptacle.

20. Washing machine receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is provided with a wireless connection to an energy source.

21. A washing machine (11, 211) for use with a washing machine receptacle (50, 150, 250) according to claim 1, the washing machine comprising: a housing (12, 212), a drum (14) in a drum housing (16) in the housing for conducting a washing process therein, a sump (24) located underneath the drum for collecting water exiting the drum, —a water circulation (23), a circulation pump (27) for circulating water in the water circulation and pipes (25, 28, 33, 34) for connecting these components, a dispensing system (38) configured to supply to the drum (14) detergents, additives or chemicals for the washing process, the dispensing system being configured to have the washing machine receptacle (50) included therein, a separate water duct (34) for water from the drum (14) to be transported into the dispensing system (38), and a machine side communication module (42, 243) in the washing machine (11, 211) for communication with the receptacle (50, 250) or with a receptacle side communication module (56, 256).

22. Washing machine according to claim 21, wherein it has a control device (40) for the washing machine (11) being adapted for controlling water heating (21) and drum rotation (18), this control device (40) having the machine side communication module (42, 243) for communication with the receptacle communication module (56, 256), wherein there is a receptacle control device (54, 254) in the receptacle (50, 250) being connected with the receptacle communication module (56, 256).

23. Washing machine according to claim 21, wherein the washing machine has no other control device than at least one of the group of: in the machine side communication module for communication with the receptacle communication module, and a motor control.

24. Washing machine according to claim 21, wherein a valve (29) is placed behind the circulation pump (27), wherein a valve outlet is connected to the separate water duct (34) to the dispensing system (38).

25. Washing machine according to claim 21, wherein the washing machine (11, 211) is provided with a washing machine receptacle (50, 150, 250), the receptacle being located at a higher level than a center point of the drum (14).

26. Washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the receptacle control device (54, 254) is connected to a motor control for a drive motor (18) of the drum (14), the motor control being located in the washing machine (11, 211), wherein the receptacle control device (54, 254) is the only control device of the washing machine, and wherein the at least one controller in the receptacle control device (54, 254) is the only controller in the washing machine.

27. Method for operating a washing machine according to claim 21, wherein the water transported in the washing machine (11, 211) to the receptacle (50, 250) is analyzed by the sensor means (71, 76, 80) in the receptacle.

28. Method for operating a washing machine according to claim 27, wherein the washing machine (11, 211) is connected to the internet or to a cloud server by: one or more of: receiving action information from the cloud to control a function unit of the washing machine, or forwarding information from the washing machine to the cloud, wherein the cloud server is configured to communicate with a plurality of home appliances and/or to provide to the washing machine energy cost information as action information and/or to provide water quality information as action information and/or to provide advertisement information regarding the washing machine.

29. Method for operating a washing machine according to claim 28 with a receptacle, wherein a the part of a smartphone (159) or an integral smartphone is connected to the internet or to the cloud server and transmits data into the washing machine (11, 211) concerning operating parameters of the washing machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are schematically represented in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a washing machine according to the invention with a conventional water circulation which, additionally, contains detecting means and a filter for microfibers in a drawer also used for dosing detergents and additives into the washing process,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view from above onto the drawer of FIG. 1 with a filter, several chambers and several sensors,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view from the front side into the drawer of FIG. 2 into a sensor chamber with several sensors,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view from the side onto a first embodiment of the drawer of FIG. 2 with a partial sectional view onto a receptacle control device with a touch screen,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view from the side onto a second embodiment of the drawer of FIG. 2 with a partial sectional view onto an integrated smartphone with a touch screen as receptacle control device and a light guide into a sensor chamber,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a front view onto the drawer of FIG. 5 with the touch screen of the smartphone,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a top view onto a drawer according to FIG. 2 with a plug contact and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a top view onto an alternative drawer according to FIG. 2 with wireless communication modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a washing machine 11 according to the invention. Washing machine 11 has a housing 12 including a drum 14 in a drum housing 16. A drive motor 18 is provided for drum 14 having a motor control 19, preferably integrated with drive means, for example in the form of an energy converter. On the lowest region of drum housing 16 or in a sump 24 underneath leading out of drum housing 16, a heater 21 together with a temperature sensor 22 for controlling operation of the heater 21 to heat up water in the sump 24 are provided. Furthermore, a water circulation 23 is provided which is partly according to the prior art.

(11) From sump 24 a sump pipe 25 leads to a pump 27. This pump 27 corresponds to the usual circulation pump in a conventional washing machine. From an outlet of pump 27, a pump pipe 28 leads to a valve device 29, which is a so-called three-way-valve. In a first position, valve device 29 connects to a sewage line 31 out of the washing machine 11 leading into a sewage of a house or the like. In a second position, valve device 29 is connected to a circulation pipe 33 which leads back to the drum housing 16 such that circulating water enters drum housing 16 from above for participating in the washing process in drum 14.

(12) A third pipe in the form of a filter pipe 34 is provided leading from valve device 29 in its third position to a drawer 50 as a washing machine receptacle as described before. The drawer 50 is detailed later in FIGS. 2 to 8.

(13) Washing machine 11 also has a machine control device 40 that may correspond partly to a conventional control device for a washing machine. Control device 40 is connected to heater 21 and temperature sensor 22, pump 27, valve device 29 and motor control 19. Furthermore, control device 40 is connected to a conventional operating device 48 with operating elements 49 for a user, which could also have any optical signaling means or a display. Other sensors for the direct control or surveillance of the washing process could be provided as well.

(14) Washing machine 11 is provided with a fresh water pipe 37 for delivering fresh water from outside to the washing machine 11 and to a washing process, respectively. This fresh water from fresh water pipe 37 enters a dispensing system 38, which in this case comprises among others the drawer 50 according to the invention, that, apart from the inventive aspects, can also fulfill the functions of a conventional drawer according to the prior art. Drawer 50 being arranged in the upper left area of the washing machine 11 will be described later. From drawer 50, a drawer outlet 52 leads again into drum housing 16 from above. Detergents and/or additives for a washing process are inserted into drawer 50 by a user of washing machine 11. They are flushed with the help of fresh water from a fresh water pipe 37 into drum 14 for the washing process. This corresponds to a conventional washing machine. Fresh water pipe 37 may be provided with several valves that are controlled by control device 40 to deliver fresh water into one of several chambers in drawer 50, which is also known in the art and which will be described later.

(15) FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of drawer 50 having a drawer body 51 in a view from above. In the front part, a grip 53 is provided for extracting drawer 50 out of housing 12. Drawer body 51 is provided with a plurality of chambers and also water inlets. Water inlets are, on the one hand, represented in dashed lines as fresh water inlets 37 in several locations.

(16) On the other hand, filter pipe inlets 34 are also provided in several locations, also represented in dashed lines. Diverting a water flow between these various inlets is not shown here, but can easily be done via valve devices or the like. Especially for fresh water from fresh water pipe 37, valve devices or the like being used in conventional washing machines may preferably be provided. The same applies to water from filter pipe 34, which is circulating water being pumped by circulation pump 27.

(17) In a front left region of drawer 50, three detergent chambers 63 are provided in one row being connected via openings in such a way that water entering one of these chambers flows in any case with the aid of a downward slope not represented here to the foremost detergent chamber 63. From there, finally, the water flows into an outlet chamber 84 having a siphon outlet 85 or the like, which again leads into drawer outlet 52 and back into drum housing 16. The number of detergent chambers 63 could be higher or lower. They can be used for filling in detergents as well as additives like softeners or the like, as is known from conventional washing machines. Each of these detergents and softeners are flushed into the washing process when they are required in a conventional manner.

(18) In the back part of drawer body 51, a filter chamber 65 is provided with two water inlets, namely one from fresh water pipe 37 and one from filter pipe 34. A filter 66 is provided with a filter membrane, which forms a kind of filter outlet from filter chamber 65. Filter 66 with filter membrane can be of any kind as described above, preferably a conventional filter surface being able to filter microfibers with a size of down to 1 μm or 2 μm from water.

(19) To be able to clean filter chamber 65 as well as filter 66 from germs and microbes, at least one UV lamp 67 can be provided. Another such UV lamp or a similar device can be provided on the other side of filter membrane.

(20) Filter 66 can also be provided with any filter cleaning means. Furthermore, filter 66 or its filter membrane, potentially also together with filter chamber 65, may be designed to be removable from drawer 50 to be extracted for emptying its content into the household garbage or the like. Filter 66 with filter membrane may also be a disposable filter for a complete removal together with filtered matter. A new filter may be inserted afterwards for further use of the washing machine 11.

(21) Behind the filter 66, the filtered water enters a reactor chamber 68 being provided with a special additive supply 70, a heater 69 and a sensor 71. Above reactor chamber 68, a fresh water pipe 37 and a filter pipe 34 are represented again in dashed lines to show that filter 66 can somehow be by-passed for direct use of reactor chamber 68 and the following chambers if filter 66 is not or not yet needed or if it is flushed back for cleaning purposes.

(22) The special additives in special additive supply 70 may be special detergents as enzymes or the like, which can be activated by heat from heater 69, or in some other manner. They may be of great use in specific washing procedures depending on the kind of laundry and the kind of pollution on the laundry. Furthermore, such special additives may serve for the purpose of laundry being made up of synthetic fibers reducing an output of microfibers, for example by reducing internal friction in the fabric of the laundry. Even if reactor chamber 68 is not used, circulating water may be introduced directly therein to by-pass filter 66.

(23) A valve 72 may open a water flow from reactor chamber 68 into the next chamber being a processing chamber 74. In processing chamber 74, processing means 75 are arranged on one side, and a sensor 76 is arranged on the other side. The processing means may include a heater or a radiation source, particularly for treating water, contamination in the water or, especially, microfibers or other textile fibers in the water. The sensor 76 may be designed to monitor such a treatment or its results, respectively, for a better control of it. Such a water flow may be achieved as in the detergent chambers by a downward slope in the chambers on the right side.

(24) Through a further valve 77, the water may flow from processing chamber 74 into a detecting chamber 79 in front of it being provided with two sensors 80 and being closed by another valve 82. In detecting chamber 79, the main detecting process for detecting microfibers in the water circulating in washing machine 11 or, respectively, in water circulation 23 takes place. Sensors 80 may be of any kind as described before, preferably they are a sedimentation analysis sensor such that detecting chamber 79 corresponds to a sedimentation chamber as is known in the art for analyzing purposes. For such a sedimentation analysis, water from the water circulation 23 in washing machine 11 may be introduced via filter pipe 34 and open valves 72 and 77 into detecting chamber 79, whereas valve 82 is closed. If detecting chamber 79 is filled up to a certain degree or for a certain time, valve 77 is closed and valve 82 may either be slightly opened to let out some water or, even better, a certain amount of time is let pass until fibers and other matter in the water in detection chamber 79 can sink down as is known in the art. Sensors 80 may then detect in the conventional manner whether microfibers are present at all and, in addition, may try to detect whether the pollution of the circulating water with microfibers is rather low or rather high, in particular when compared to other fibers present in the water and, in consequence, also in detection chamber 79. Sedimentation analysis sensors together with optical sensors, for example IR sensors, are best used for this, wherein other suitable sensor means are not excluded naturally.

(25) Such a sedimentation analysis as detection process may take some minutes. The big advantage of the invention of providing the detecting means with sensors 80 for detecting microfibers in drawer 50 is that this location in the upper part of housing 12 is the location in washing machine 11 with the least amount of vibrations and mechanical interference. Consequently this has been proven to be the best location for not only sedimentation analysis sensors, but also for other sensors that may be used for detecting pollution or microfibers in water. Due to their easy accessibility, the sensors can also easily be cleaned or replaced manually. Furthermore, an advantage of also providing the filter 66 in drawer 50 is that it is also easily and readily accessible there. Apart from drawer 50, a conventional washing machine only has one small opening in a lower area of the body, preferably for completely emptying the water circulation in the washing machine from water. By arranging the filter 66 in the drawer 50 there is no need to change much in the basic construction principle of the washing machine. Cleaning of filter 66 as well as potentially replacing it can be achieved very easily and is comfortable for a user.

(26) For the time that the analysis of water in detecting chamber 79 takes, the water circulation should continue in a conventional manner via circulation pump 33 back into drum housing 16 as fits to the washing process started. It should only be paid attention not to release any water into sewage line 31 out of washing machine that has not been filtered due to potentially containing microfibers. If the result of the analysis of the water is that microfibers are present, and, in particular, with such an amount that a filtering is recommended or mandatory, such filtering will then start. This means that valve device 29 shuts off circulation pipe 33 and directs a flow of water through filter pipe 34 into drawer 50, in particular into filter chamber 65 with the filter 66. Valves 72, 77 and 82 are then opened such that filtered water can flow through the respective chambers into outlet chamber 84 and through siphon outlet 85 via drawer outlet 52 into the drum housing 16 where it continues the washing process.

(27) As an alternative to UV lamp 67, there may be provided means for a bioremediation of fibers, especially of microfibers to destroy them. It is also possible to clean or flush detecting chamber 79 with circulating used water or with water from filter pipe 34 or from fresh water pipe 37, preferably entering into reactor chamber 68, and a corresponding opening and closing of valves 72, 77 and 82.

(28) The start of a filtration of circulating water for microfibers can, if such microfibers have been detected, in each case be initiated by machine control device 40 or, even better, by a receptacle control 54, respectively. In practice, it is regarded as sufficient if water is analyzed a short time span after the washing process of laundry has started, especially one or two minutes after the first rinsing of the laundry with water. It can then be expected that any synthetic fibers in the laundry have set free microfibers that are to be filtered out according to the invention. If such an amount of microfibers has been detected in one washing process, it can obviously be taken that microfibers will be released during the complete washing process, which leads to the filtering being advisable during the complete washing process. In consequence, only water that has passed through the filter 66 may be finally pumped out of the washing machine via sewage line 31, which may pass through drawer 50 and drum 14 as well as pump 27 and valve device 29. Depending on the nature of the filter 66, one filtering step may be sufficient or, alternatively, several filtering steps are needed such that, during an end phase of the washing cycle as well as of the spinning cycle before releasing water out of the washing machine 11, water may be circulated over the filter 66 only for the purpose of filtering before releasing it and not because it is needed for the washing process.

(29) In another option, fresh water from fresh water pipe 37 may be analyzed by a sensor provided in the drawer to be able to determine, for example, content of a contamination or a degree of water hardness. This could also be implemented to analyze grey water coming into the machine before it is let into the drum 14 for a washing process. A rinsing or cleaning of all the sensors 71, 76 and 80 with fresh water may also be used to calibrate them for better accuracy.

(30) In addition to the functional parts for water analysis and water treatment, drawer 50 is provided with a schematically shown receptacle control 54 and a receptacle communication module 56 as mentioned before. This is described in detail later on.

(31) In FIG. 3, a sectional view through sensor chamber 79 is shown. The rest of receptacle 50 is not shown. In sensor chamber 79, a level of water 81 is schematically shown taking up about half the height of sensor chamber 79. This FIG. 3 shall show some exemplary and various positions of sensors 80 in sensor chamber 79. In a first position, a sensor 80a is provided down low in sensor chamber 79, in particular on its floor to be fully immersed in the water 81. This position has the advantage that sensor 80a is covered with water 81 in any case to be able to make an analysis also for small volumes of water 81 or for a maximum duration of time.

(32) A second sensor position for sensor 80b is shown which is also almost down on the ground of sensor chamber 79, but also placed on a lateral side. Such a position could be more comfortable for an electrical contact to sensor 80b, for example through the lateral sidewall of sensor chamber 79.

(33) A third possible sensor 80c is shown, also on the lateral sidewall of sensor chamber 79, and partly submersed in the water 81. Sensor 80c is about as high as a level of water 81. Together with a fourth position for a sensor 80d on the lateral sidewall, but above sensor 80c, these three sensors might also serve as level sensors for sensing a water level in sensor chamber 79. Sensor 80d is in this case above the level of water 81 and, consequently dry. This need not absolutely be the case, but is for most of the time.

(34) In a fifth position, a sensor 80e is placed at a maximum height in sensor chamber 79, which in this case is on an upper lid or upper wall of sensor chamber 79. This sensor 80e is supposed to be dry for most of the time, preferably at all times. Sensor 80e might be a sedimentation analysis sensor as mentioned at the beginning, which may have a look at a sediment in the water 81 in sensor chamber 79.

(35) In FIG. 4, a view from the side onto a first embodiment of drawer 50 is shown. Drawer 50 has a drawer body 51, preferably made from synthetic material. Even more preferably, drawer 50 is a construction unit, which means that it is one part. Drawer 50 can be housed in housing 12 of washing machine 11 in conventional manner, especially in slideable manner to be pulled forward from a working position into a filling position. In this filling position, drawer 50 is extracted so far out of housing 12 that at least the detergent chambers 63 are accessible from above for filling in detergents and other additives as described before. It may be possible that drawer 50 can be extracted even more or also be detached from washing machine 11, preferably by unlocking any locking means, such that it can for example be cleaned or replaced or filtered matter from filter 66 can be removed out of filter chamber 65.

(36) In the case of FIG. 4, a front part of drawer 50 has a grip 53 on a lower side for easier extracting. In the part of the front extending above grip 53, receptacle control 54 is placed. Next to receptacle control 54, the receptacle communication module 56 according to FIG. 1 or 2 could be provided, which can easily be imagined and need not be shown in the drawing for sake of simplicity.

(37) Also in this case, as explained with regard to FIG. 1, receptacle communication module 56 is provided for wireless communication with the rest of washing machine 11. Receptacle communication module 56 may also communicate to the outside, for example via WLAN into a wireless net in household and, consequently, to the Internet or to a cloud server in the Internet.

(38) On the front side of drawer 50, above grip 53, a touch screen 58 is provided in the front 57. This touch screen 58 may be of conventional kind and is connected to receptacle control 54 for inputting operation commands by a user and also for outputting information to a user. Such a touch screen 58 provides for a very easy and versatile way to control operation of not only drawer 50 with its function units, but also of the whole washing machine 11.

(39) A view from the side onto a second embodiment of a drawer according to the invention is shown in FIG. 5, whereas FIG. 6 is the respective front view. Drawer 150 is partly similar to drawer 50 of FIG. 4 with the exception that on the front 157 above grip 153 of drawer body 151, a different kind of control device is provided. Whereas in FIG. 4, receptacle control 54 is a part of itself or an independent part, preferably with a powerful controller, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 an integral smartphone 159 is provided. Its front screen is placed underneath a front cover 160 in the front 157 such that its touch screen can be operated in the same manner as touch screen 58 in FIG. 4. In one alternative, front cover 160 is not even needed and the touch screen of smartphone 159 itself is open and directly accessible.

(40) On the back side of smartphone 159, very close to its back side camera, optics 162 with a light guide are provided which reach into sensor chamber 179, being schematically shown in dashed lines. This means that one way to make an analysis in sensor chamber 179 is not with internal sensors as described before, but with camera of smartphone 159. This camera may look into sensor chamber 179 via the light guide of the optics 162. These optics 162 may also be provided with mirrors, lenses, prisms and the like. They may serve for looking into sensor chamber 179 in a most positive way. This serves for not only using the camera of smartphone 159 for a simple optical analysis, but potentially also for a spectrometrical analysis or an analysis with infrared light. Another advantage is that the controller in smartphone 159 regularly is very powerful being a very fast processor, and that most modern smartphones have an integrated function for analyzing photos from their camera.

(41) In FIG. 6, the front view onto drawer 150 with front 157 shows protective screen 160 and, behind it in dashed lines, smartphone 159 being placed behind it. This shows that almost the complete touch screen of smartphone 159 may be used.

(42) A power supply for smartphone 159 may either be a direct electrical connection via a cable or via plug-in contacts, as is shown later in FIG. 8. Alternatively, an energy source may be inductive transmission by two coils being arranged very close to each other in the operating position of drawer 50 in washing machine 11, for example at the end of drawer 150 or on a lateral side.

(43) In a preferred alternative embodiment of a drawer very similar to the one of FIGS. 5 and 6, not a complete integral smartphone 159 is provided in drawer 150, but only a part of a conventional smartphone or mobile device. This part preferably is the touch screen of a smartphone together with a main board with its controller or processor, respectively, which is connected to the touch screen. Preferably, such a connection is via a flexible flat connector strip. A rechargeable battery can be provided as well as the camera as mentioned before, which in some cases is also located on a main board of a smartphone. In addition to that, communication hardware may be provided, especially with a Bluetooth communication and a WLAN communication. This means that the GSM module can be left aside as well as some other functions and parts of the conventional smartphone. Any charging port or earphone port as well as a microphone need not be provided resulting in lower costs for the components for a smartphone compared with a complete integral smartphone itself. A loudspeaker may be used for acoustical feedback to a user.

(44) In FIG. 7, the view from above onto a drawer 50 similar to the one of FIG. 1 is shown. Drawer 50 is inserted into a holder in the upper left part of washing machine 11 in its housing 12, whereas drawer 50 is significantly longer than conventional drawers. This is explained by all the additional functional units according to FIG. 2.

(45) Drawer 50 has, in this case at its back end compared to FIGS. 4 to 6, receptacle control 54 at its back end having a receptacle communication module 56 with a WLAN antenna 61. This WLAN antenna 61 of receptacle communication module 56 is for communication to the outside as described before. In receptacle control 54, a controller or a processor might be provided as explained before.

(46) Furthermore, receptacle communication module 56 is provided with a Bluetooth antenna being designed to communicate with another Bluetooth antenna of machine side communication module 42. This module 42 is connected to machine control device 40 as explained together with FIG. 1. As the distance between the Bluetooth antennas is not very large, BLE may be implemented advantageously.

(47) If an integral smartphone 159 according to FIG. 5 or at least its essential components are provided on an exemplary drawer, they may preferably be located at a front where grip 53 is situated. A screen is thus visible and accessible for touch inputs. This, however, does not have a negative impact on a Bluetooth communication inside washing machine 11 with machine side communication module 42 and control device 40 in the machine 11.

(48) It is also easy to imagine that on one of the lateral sides of drawer 50 or of drawer body 51, inductive energy transmission coils may be provided. In this way, electrical energy is provided as much as may be needed.

(49) A more simple communication between a receptacle control 254 and a machine control not being shown here can be taken from FIG. 8. In this case, receptacle control 254 is provided with a receptacle communication module 256, in this case being a simple plug. Receptacle communication module 256 is connected to or plugged into a plug contact 243 of machine side communication module 242 forming a direct electrical and galvanic contact. This contact is only closed when the drawer 250 is fully or completely pushed into housing 212 of washing machine 211 in the inserted position. Not only a signal transfer may take place via this plug contact, but also an electrical connection to the sensors and electrical function units in drawer 250 is provided. Furthermore, an energy supply for drawer 250 and receptacle control 254 is provided in a very simple way. Also a battery may be arranged in drawer 250, preferably close to receptacle control 254, for operating at least signalling means, a display or a screen or the like displaying information at the front of drawer 250 where the grip 253 for extracting it is provided.

(50) After various embodiments of the invention have been shown in the figures, especially where a receptacle control and a receptacle communication module may be placed, a person skilled in the art can especially from FIG. 1 take three general constructions and, consequently, embodiments of the invention. This is generally important for the invention and they thus form general inventive concepts being independent from each other. Their features may be valid and characterizing for the invention per se.

(51) In a first general embodiment of the invention, the washing machine is provided with a wireless machine side communication module, preferably via WLAN or Bluetooth, alternatively via a cable connection or a plug connector. Control device of the machine may be provided with a controller or a rather simple microcontroller, respectively. Control device is connected to operating device as well as to a motor control for drive motor. Control device provides for basic control functions and operating modes of washing machine, in particular with regard to drive motor and heater. Control device is also connected to receptacle control, whereas receptacle control is mainly for controlling any sensors in the receptacle as well as evaluating their signals and/or controlling an analysis procedure. Receptacle control may send any data or information to control device which then again controls the respective internal operation of washing machine, for example for directing a water flow of a water circulation in washing machine over filter in the receptacle if microfibers from synthetic materials have been detected in the water. Above all, the operation of the sensors in the receptacle is controlled and their data may be analyzed for sending respective information to control device. In this case, control device and receptacle control may have similar powerful controllers.

(52) In a variation of this first general embodiment, the receptacle with receptacle control does not have any controller at all except one exclusively in receptacle communication module. The intelligence is then located in the washing machine outside the receptacle. The receptacle only is provided with sensors and function units, as has for example been described with regard to FIG. 2.

(53) In a second general embodiment of the invention, controller of receptacle control is rather powerful. Control device does only have a very simple controller. In motor control, a simple controller is provided, which only receives information about a power for drive motor, wherein an inverter or a power converter in motor control supply power to drive motor respectively. Also heater may be controlled by motor control, for example by simply switching heater on or off, for example with a relay.

(54) In a variation of this second general embodiment, control device does have no controller at all.

(55) In control device, consequently, only very little or no intelligence is provided except for machine side communication module, being thus connected to motor control. In this second embodiment, the intelligence or the brain is mainly located in the receptacle or in the receptacle control, respectively. This has the main advantage that by simply exchanging receptacle with a different version or one, preferably, with a more powerful controller, the rest of the machine can be used further on. Generally, a life cycle for a washing machine is about ten to fifteen years, which is rather long. For a respective control, this may be significantly shorter. In this case, it is very advantageous to not only have a more powerful brain or controller in the receptacle, but also new ways for analyzing water and/or filtering water, preferably from microfibers, by exchanging a controller or the receptacle. This allows for greatly enhancing the potential and capabilities of a washing machine by simply exchanging its receptacle which only needs to have a communication with the washing machine.

(56) In a third general embodiment of the invention, an integral mobile device such as a smartphone or a part of such a mobile device is provided in the receptacle. Also in this case, a major part of the intelligence or, preferably, all the intelligence is located in the receptacle. In washing machine, control device need not have many functionalities or power, basically also because a processor used in a smartphone is by far more capable than any processor or controller used in a washing machine.

(57) Another advantage of using an integral mobile device or at least a processor or controller of a smartphone in drawer 50 is that, in the arrangement of FIGS. 5 and 6, the implementing of the touch screen of the smartphone in the front 57 of drawer 50 provides for very easy operation of the washing machine and/or the sensors. The touch screen is cooperating perfectly with a corresponding processor. Having its own operating system, preferably Android or iOS. Any new programs or functions for washing machine 11 may be in the form of so-called Apps in the mobile device or its controller, respectively. Programming of such Apps is much easier than programming of a general controller for a household device in machine code.

(58) The provision of a motor control 19 with some kind of small controller has the advantage that a conventional and standard configuration of a washing machine may be used, also with regard to safety regulations. Also case it is not necessary in this to re-program a new kind of motor control together with a control of heater 21, where a given and reliable concept is present and may advantageously be used.