DE102024102208A1 - Laundry treatment cabinet with spray device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry treatment cabinet (1) comprising
- a housing (2);
- at least one chamber (3) for receiving laundry (9) with an access opening that can be closed by means of a door (5);
- a spray device (40) with a fluid source (45), a pump (42) and at least one outlet nozzle (43) for generating and supplying fluid (F) for the chamber (3);
- a control device (18, uC) for activating and deactivating the spray device (40, 42) such that the pump (42) for generating the fluid flow (F) can be activated and deactivated;
- a holding device (50) with a holding means (51) for holding a piece of laundry (9) within the chamber (3), preferably for hanging or stretching the piece of laundry (9).
The spray device (40) comprises a support element (41) to which the outlet nozzle (43) is attached, wherein the support element (41) is pivotally mounted in a vertical axis (V) within the chamber (3) and comprises an actuator (60) for moving the support element (41) with the nozzle (43) in order to spray the emerging fluid (F) over the entire surface of the laundry item (9) placed in the chamber (3).

Description

• - ein Gehäuse;
• - zumindest eine Kammer zur Aufnahme von Wäsche (9) mit einer mittels einer Tür verschließbaren Zugangsöffnung;
• - eine Sprühvorrichtung mit einer Fluidquelle, einer Pumpe und zumindest einer Auslassdüse, zur Erzeugung und Zuführung von Fluid für die Kammer;
• - eine Steuereinrichtung zum Aktivieren und Deaktivieren der Sprühvorrichtung, derart, dass die Pumpe zur Erzeugung des Fluidstromes aktiviert und deaktiviert werden kann;
• - eine Aufnahmevorrichtung mit einem Haltemittel zum Halten, eines Wäschestücks innerhalb der Kammer, bevorzugt zum Aufhängen oder Aufspannen des Wäschestücks.

The invention relates to a laundry treatment cabinet comprising

• - a housing;
• - at least one chamber for receiving laundry (9) with an access opening that can be closed by means of a door;
• - a spray device with a fluid source, a pump and at least one outlet nozzle for generating and supplying fluid to the chamber;
• - a control device for activating and deactivating the spray device such that the pump for generating the fluid flow can be activated and deactivated;
• - a receiving device with a holding means for holding a piece of laundry within the chamber, preferably for hanging or stretching the piece of laundry.

From the DE 10 2008 039 669 A1 is a laundry treatment cabinet with a spray device for applying a fluid to a piece of laundry located in the treatment chamber. The cabinet includes a spray device with several nozzles mounted side by side on a horizontal rod or tube that spray onto the laundry. The rod is vertically movable, ensuring that the textile hanging close to the rod is completely sprayed.

From the EP 3 252 210 A1 A laundry treatment cabinet with a treatment chamber and a heat pump for generating process air for flow through the treatment chamber. The heat pump dehumidifies and heats the process air. To condition the textiles, the dryer cabinet also includes a steam generator to supply steam to the treatment chamber. This heats water to evaporate it and then pipes it into the treatment chamber. Because water contains minerals, the steam generator builds up limescale over time and requires regular descaling by the user.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a laundry treatment cabinet which, with simple measures, provides improved treatment of the laundry item to be treated by means of spraying.

According to the invention, at least this object is achieved by a laundry treatment cabinet having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The advantages achievable with the invention are that it provides a simple, long-term, reliable operation for a variety of laundry care processes in the laundry treatment cabinet. Furthermore, it ensures that the entire outer surface—i.e., the front, back, and both sides—are exposed to the treatment fluid at least almost evenly. For this purpose, the laundry treatment cabinet comprises a spray device with a fluid source, a pump, and at least one outlet nozzle for generating and specifically delivering the treatment fluid into the chamber to the laundry item. The spray device comprises a support element to which the outlet nozzle is attached, or to which several outlet nozzles are attached. The support element is pivotally mounted within the chamber along a vertical axis and comprises an actuator for moving the support element with the nozzle about a vertical axis of rotation in order to spray the exiting fluid evenly onto the laundry item placed in the chamber. This arrangement is very simple and space-saving to implement because the nozzle arrangement is preferably positioned on one side or corner of the treatment chamber. By means of a back-and-forth pivoting motion, the spray jet reaches a large area of the laundry, which is preferably hung or stretched in the center of the chamber. The laundry treatment cabinet comprises a fixed interior space serving as the treatment chamber.

In an advantageous further development, the cabinet further comprises a unit with a fan for generating or conveying process air through the chamber. This allows a drying process to be carried out in addition to the spray treatment.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the spray device is provided with a water heater for heating the fluid to be pumped. This allows heated water or heated treatment solution to be sprayed onto the laundry item. Furthermore, the water heater can be operated in such a way that it generates steam, so that steam is sprayed through the nozzles onto the laundry item. Overall, gentle and effective cleaning or refreshing of laundry items is achieved. The water heater can preferably be designed as a continuous-flow heater, into which water is pumped by means of the controlled pump. This water then evaporates in the heated pipe of the continuous-flow heater and is guided to the nozzle or through the nozzle into the treatment chamber.

In an overall advantageous embodiment, the nozzle is designed to provide a flat jet in a predominantly vertical orientation. A flat jet means that the jet is fanned out in two opposite directions, with the jet perpendicular to the jet remaining very narrow. The width of the jet at the point of impact on the laundry is approximately 10 to 100 times the thickness of the jet at the point of impact.

In a further, overall advantageous embodiment, the support element is designed as a vertical beam to which several nozzles are mounted one below the other. The beam can be designed as a hollow body into which the nozzles are inserted. The hollow space then serves as a channel for supplying the fluid to the individual nozzles. The spacing between the nozzles is preferably in the range of 20 cm to 50 cm.

In a preferred embodiment, the nozzles are attached to the support element in such a way that the flat jet is inclined at an angle of 5° to 15° to the vertical reference plane. In other words, the vertical reference plane extends vertically from the nozzle into the treatment chamber. The jet now extends along the reference plane when the nozzle is not inclined, i.e. is attached to the support element at an angle of 0°. Since the nozzle is attached to the support element rotated by the said angle in the range of 5° to 15°, the flat jet emerging from the nozzle is also inclined by this angle. If several nozzles are attached one below the other on the support element with the said rotation, the emerging flat jets are prevented from colliding with one another. There is no turbulence of the flat jets, so that all jets emerging from the nozzles reach the item of laundry with full pressure and without deflection.

In an overall advantageous embodiment, the holding means for holding or hanging the laundry item in the treatment chamber is mounted on the top of the chamber and mounted so that it can rotate or pivot about a vertical axis. By means of an actuator, such as a motor, the holding means can be driven such that it is rotated or pivoted back and forth through a predetermined angle. This causes a pivoting movement of the laundry item, so that the laundry item is positioned at different angles to the jet during the treatment process. Overall, a nearly uniform application of the treatment agent to the laundry item is achieved.

In an overall expedient embodiment, the control device is configured to activate and deactivate the spray device, so that the pump for generating the fluid flow is activated and deactivated, and is further configured to activate and deactivate the actuator for rotating the holding means in order to effect a pivoting movement of the holding means. Preferably, the spray device can be activated independently of the activation of the unit for generating and conditioning the process air. "Activated" is understood to mean the operation of the spray device such that the spray jet can be operated with a constant spray intensity or with different spray intensity levels, wherein the pump for conveying the fluid through the nozzle is controlled with a corresponding delivery rate.

Preferably, the control device is configured to simultaneously activate the spray device and the actuator for moving the holding means to provide a combined movement of the laundry item and the spray jet. This allows the entire surface of the laundry item to be completely exposed to the treatment agent within a short period of time. Furthermore, the spray jet reaches the surface of the laundry item at different angles, thereby improving the penetration of the treatment agent into the textile fabric and reliably removing dirt particles from the textile fabric.

In an overall practical embodiment, the treatment fluid consists of water, steam, washing liquid or treatment liquid or a combination of these substances.

In a further, generally practical embodiment, the spray device comprises a storage tank for storing the fluid. Alternatively, or in combination, a connection for an external fluid source can also be provided, for example, a water connection for connecting to a water supply network.

The laundry treatment cabinet preferably comprises a wastewater device with a drain in the floor of the chamber for draining dripping fluid and a wastewater line for discharging wastewater outside the treatment cabinet or a wastewater tank. The floor of the chamber is preferably shaped as a flat funnel with a drain opening at its lowest point. Below the drain opening, the fluid can be drained or pumped into a wastewater tank or to the outside. Using a recirculation pump, the collected fluid can be pumped back to the laundry through the nozzles.

When using the storage tank for treatment fluid and the waste water tank to collect the used fluid collected in the chamber, it is advantageous to place the storage tank and the waste water tank in the lower area, below the The treatment chamber of the laundry treatment cabinet must be arranged so that it is removable.

In an overall practical embodiment, the treatment cabinet comprises an operating device configured to provide user input for activating the spray device and transmit it to the control unit. Activation of the spray device is considered to be the activation of the pump for conveying the fluid, which can be controlled or operated for different delivery rates during the treatment sequence to be performed. Furthermore, depending on the selected and activated treatment program, the holding device—i.e., the actuator that causes the movement of the holding means—can also be controlled.

Preferably, the unit is arranged in the floor area of the cabinet, below the interior space, and wherein the interior space comprises an outlet for extracting the process air in the lower area or on the underside, preferably in the rear area, and an air inlet for admitting the process air into the interior space in the lower, preferably front area of the interior space, wherein parts of the spray device, such as the pump and water heater, are also arranged in the floor area of the cabinet.

Overall, all direction and position information refers to the normal operating position of the cabinet.

• 1: ein als Wäschebehandlungsschrank ausgebildetes Wäschebehandlungsgerät mit Blick in den Innenraum;
• 2: den Wäschebehandlungsschrank mit Fluidsystem in schematischer Darstellung und
• 3, 4: den Wäschebehandlungsschrank in schematischer Draufsicht;
• 5, 6: Die Sprühvorrichtung als separate Einzelansicht und
• 7a bis 7c: die Sprühvorrichtung mit dem Haltemittel in verschiedenen Situationen.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below.

• 1 : a laundry treatment appliance designed as a laundry treatment cabinet with a view into the interior;
• 2 : the laundry treatment cabinet with fluid system in schematic representation and
• 3 , 4 : the laundry treatment cabinet in a schematic plan view;
• 5 , 6 : The spray device as a separate individual view and
• 7a to 7c : the spray device with the holding device in different situations.

1 shows a laundry treatment cabinet 1 with the door 5 open, viewed diagonally from above, in which the interior 3 is visible. The door 5 serves to close the access opening to the interior 3, which forms the treatment chamber 3 for the textiles to be treated. The laundry treatment cabinet 1 in this example is a drying cabinet, comprising a housing 2, in the interior 3 of which there are means 31 for hanging laundry or clothes hangers. The laundry treatment cabinet 1 comprises, inside the housing 2, a heat pump unit 8 for providing and conveying the process air, which is admitted through the inlet opening 81 into the interior 3 and conveyed through the outlet opening 82 from the interior 3 to the unit 8. In this example, the unit 8 is arranged in the lower region 33 of the housing 2. The front of the door 5 is opaque in this illustration, but it can be transparent so that it can be seen in the closed position. The laundry treatment cabinet 1 further comprises a spray device 40 ( 2 , 3 ) for treating a piece of laundry 9 hung or stretched out in the treatment chamber 3, as well as a control device 18, which preferably comprises a microcontroller uC with an associated memory MEM, in order to control, or activate and deactivate, the unit 8 and spray device 40 according to the program stored in the memory MEM. The treatment cabinet 1 further comprises a holding device 50, which comprises a drive means 54 and a holding means 52. The textile item 9 is suspended from the holding means 51. The holding means 51 is preferably designed as a clothes hanger and is connected to the drive means 54 such that the drive means 54 can cause a rotational movement of the holding means 51. The spray device 40 comprises a support element 41, which is designed as a tube or beam, which is mounted vertically on one side or at the edge of the interior space 3. The nozzles 43 ( 3 ) are arranged.

2 shows the laundry treatment cabinet 1 in a schematic view with the fluid system of the spray device 40. The interior 3 comprises an air inlet 81 and an air outlet 82. In the bottom area of the housing 2 ( 1 ) is the heat pump unit 8 for generating the process air P. The unit 8 comprises a heat pump circuit with a cooling heat exchanger 86 (evaporator), a heating heat exchanger 84 (condenser), a throttle 85a, and a compressor 85 to convey the refrigerant contained in the heat pump circuit through the individual components. The process air blower 83 generates the air flow of the process air P, which passes through the outlet 82 to the cooling heat exchanger 86 and is dehumidified there. The dry, cool air then reaches the heating heat exchanger 84, which it leaves again heated. Further downstream is the process air blower 83, which conveys the now dried and heated process air P through the inlet 81 into the interior space 3. In 1 As an example, it is shown that the inlet 81 is arranged close to the rear wall of the interior 3. The outlet 82 is away from the inlet 81 and arranged close to the door 5. Thus, an air flow P is generated that reaches the entire interior 3.

The unit 8 further comprises a spray device 40 with a water source 45, a feed pump 42, and a flow heater 49, which heats the flowing fluid or water and, if necessary, evaporates it. The fluid passes through the fluid pipe 44 into the treatment chamber 3, where it exerts the intended effect on the textiles 9, such as de-wrinkle, cleaning, and/or aromatizing, for example, if fragrances are added to the fluid. The fluid pipe 44 opens into the tubular support element 41, in which the nozzles 43 are mounted and connected to the fluid pipe 44. Condensate from the drying process is also collected in the tray 46 and pumped into the collection container 48, preferably by means of the condensate pump 47. The spray device 40 further comprises an actuator or a drive means 60 which is coupled to the rotatable support element 41 and causes a rotational movement of the support element 41 or the nozzle 43 by a limited angle of rotation and/or a back and forth movement.

The spray device 40 further comprises components for adding care agents D, which are designed to admit care agents D into the line 44 at predetermined times.

For this purpose, the spray device 40 comprises a reservoir 61 containing a care agent D, for example, detergent, disinfectant, waterproofing agent, or fragrance, which is introduced into the line system via valves V1 and V2. After introduction, the care agent D is mixed with the water in line 44 and flows to the nozzle 43 as a care fluid. The valve V2 for supplying the water to the reservoir 45 can also be omitted or designed as a vacuum-controlled check valve. The liquid accumulating in the treatment chamber 3 is drained into the collecting tray 46.

3 shows a schematic plan view of the interior 3 of the laundry care cabinet 1. The interior 3 has a rectangular layout, with the holding means 51 for holding the item of laundry 9 arranged in the central area. The holding means 51 is mounted in the interior 3 by means of a vertical axis 53 and driven by an actuator 54. The holding means 51 with the piece of textile 9 stretched or suspended thereon is pivoted, while the fluid is sprayed onto the piece of textile 9 through the nozzle 43. In this embodiment, the nozzle 43 is fixedly mounted in the corner of the interior 3.

4 shows a schematic plan view of the interior 3 of the laundry care cabinet 1. The interior 3 has a rectangular layout, with the holding means 51 for holding the laundry item 9 being arranged in the central area. The holding means 51 is arranged by means of a vertical shaft 53 ( 3 ) is mounted in the interior space 3 and driven by an actuator 54. The holding means 51 with the textile piece 9 stretched or suspended thereon is pivoted, while the fluid is sprayed onto the textile piece 9 through the nozzle 43. In this embodiment, the nozzle 43 is mounted in the tubular support element 41 in the corner of the interior space 3. The support element 41 with the nozzle 43 mounted thereon or therein is rotatably mounted and driven by a motor (). The nozzle arrangement 43, 41 can be rotated back and forth through a predetermined angle, preferably in the range of 30° to 100°.

5 shows the support element 41 in a side view. The support element 41 is arranged vertically. In the example, the spray device 40 comprises three nozzles 43 arranged one below the other. The distance E is preferably in the range of 20 cm to 100 cm, preferably 20 cm to 50 cm. 6 The support element 41 with the nozzles 43 is shown looking toward the outlet side. The nozzles 43 are designed as flat radiators, creating a narrow, fanned-out jet. The impact points of the individual jets F are then linear or strip-shaped. The nozzles 43 are mounted on the support element 51 in such a way that the flat jet F is inclined at an angle W relative to the vertical V.

7a to 7c show different positions of the nozzles 43 and the holding means 51 with the textile piece 9 suspended thereon, which occur during the execution of a single treatment process. By simultaneously rotating the textile 9 and the nozzles 43, the desired jet angle is set and kept constant for a time in the range of 20° to 90°, in 7a shown at approximately 90°.

Initially, surface dirt is rinsed away at a low angle of impact, for example, in the range of 20° to 45°. This is followed by a thorough cleaning at a high angle of impact (60° to 90°). At the end of the cleaning cycle, the angle is adjusted back to a flat angle (20° to 45°) to remove the loosened dirt and lint from the surface. Subsequent rinse cycles primarily remove detergent residues. To ensure effective exchange of the bound liquor—that is, water with a high detergent concentration bound to the fabric—with the fresh water used for the rinse cycle, a high angle of impact (70° to 90°) is used.

The process provides a very good cleaning and rinsing effect. 7a shows the situation in which the spray jet F hits the left edge of the textile 9 at a right angle. This intensively treats the impact area and removes dirt. If the holding means 51 remains in position and the nozzle 43 is rotated to the right, the spray jet reaches the left side of the textile 9 with a flat impact angle.

7b shows the situation in which the spray jet F hits the central area of the textile 9 at a right angle. This intensively treats the impact area and loosens dirt. If the holding means 51 remains in position and the nozzle 43 is rotated to the right and left, the spray jet reaches the left and right sides of the textile 9 at an impact angle of between 40° and 80°.

7c shows the situation in which the spray jet F hits the right edge of the textile 9 at a right angle. This intensively treats the impact area and removes dirt. If the holding means 51 remains in position and the nozzle 43 is rotated to the left, the spray jet reaches the left side of the textile 9 with a flat impact angle.

All position and direction information refers to the normal operating position of the device 1.

QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2008 039 669 A1 [0002]
• EP 3 252 210 A1 [0003]

Claims (16)

Laundry treatment cabinet (1), comprising - a housing (2); - at least one chamber (3) for receiving laundry (9) with an access opening that can be closed by a door (5); - a spray device (40) with a fluid source (45), a pump (42) and at least one outlet nozzle (43) for generating and supplying fluid (F) for the chamber (3); - a control device (18, µC) for activating and deactivating the spray device (40, 42) such that the pump (42) for generating the fluid flow (F) can be activated and deactivated; - a holding device (50) with a holding means (51) for holding a piece of laundry (9) within the chamber (3), preferably for hanging or stretching the piece of laundry (9), characterized in that the spray device (40) comprises a support element (41) to which the outlet nozzle (43) is attached, wherein the support element (41) is mounted pivotably about a vertical axis (V) within the chamber (3) and comprises an actuator (60) for moving the support element (41) with the nozzle (43) in order to spray the escaping fluid (F) over the entire surface of the piece of laundry (9) placed in the chamber (3). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) after Claim 1 , further comprising an aggregate (8) with a blower (83) for generating or conveying process air (P) through the chamber (3). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 and 2 , wherein the spray device (409) comprises a water heater (49) for heating the fluid (F) to be pumped. Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the nozzle (43) is designed and arranged to provide a flat jet in a predominantly vertical orientation. Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the support element (41) is designed as a vertical beam to which several nozzles (43) are attached one below the other. Laundry treatment cabinet (1) after Claim 5 , wherein the distance between the nozzles (43) is a value in the range from 20 cm to 100 cm, preferably 20 cm to 50 cm. Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the Claims 5 or 6 , wherein the nozzles (43) are attached to the support element (41) in such a way that a flat jet is inclined at an angle of 5° to 15° to the vertical reference plane (V). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding device (50) comprises a holding means (41) and an actuator (54) for driving the holding means (51), wherein the holding means (51) is arranged on the upper side of the chamber (3) and is rotatably mounted in a vertical axis (53) in order to effect a pivoting movement of the item of laundry (9). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (18, µC) is configured to activate and deactivate the spray device (40) in such a way that the pump (42) for generating the fluid flow (F) is activated and deactivated and is further configured to activate and deactivate the actuator (54) for the rotary drive of the holding means (51) in order to effect a pivoting movement of the holding means (51). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) after Claim 9 , wherein the control device (18, uC) is configured to simultaneously activate the spray device (40, 42) and the actuator (54) for moving the holding means (51) in order to provide a combined movement of the item of laundry (9) and the spray jet (F). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment fluid (F) is water, steam, washing liquid or treatment liquid or a combination of these substances. Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spray device (40) comprises a storage tank (45) for storing the fluid. Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a waste water device (46) with a drain (84) in the bottom of the chamber (3) for discharging dripping fluid and a waste water line for discharging waste water outside the treatment cabinet or a waste water tank (48). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) after Claim 12 and 13 , wherein the storage tank (45) and the waste water tank (48) are removably arranged in the lower region of the laundry treatment cabinet (1). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an operating device (19) which is configured to provide a user input for activating the spray device (40, 42) and to transmit it to the control device (18, µC). Laundry treatment cabinet (1) according to one of the Claims 2 until 15 , wherein the unit (8) is arranged in the floor area (33) of the cabinet (1), below the interior space (3), and wherein the interior space (3) comprises in the lower area or on the underside, preferably in the rear area, an outlet (82) for sucking off the air (P) to be treated, and in the lower, preferably front area of the interior space (3) an air inlet (81) for admitting the treated air (P) into the interior space (3), wherein parts of the spray device are also arranged in the floor area (33) of the cabinet (1).