WO2013000787A1

WO2013000787A1 - Laundry washing and drying machine with air-cooled condenser

Info

Publication number: WO2013000787A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/061825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Talip Caglar; Atilla Uz
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2011-06-27
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2013-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-27
Also published as: CN103620106A; EP2723935A1; EP2723935B1; TR201718097T3; TR201106331A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry is placed, a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) moves, a detergent dispenser (4) wherein the chemical cleaning agents to be used in the laundry washing process are placed, an air ventilation duct (5) wherein the processing air circulation providing the laundry to be dried at the drying process after the washing process is realized, an air-cooled condenser (7) condensing the processing air, a control unit (10) controlling the washing-drying programs, a first valve (11) providing water to be taken from the water supply (S) at the beginning of the laundry washing program and to be sent to the tub (3) through the detergent dispenser (4) and a second valve (12) providing water to be taken from the water supply (S) to be sent to the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) in order that laundry fibers and lint that are carried with the processing air and that adhere to the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) are removed.

Description

LAUNDRY WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE WITH AIR-COOLED CONDENSER

The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine comprising an air-cooled condenser.

In laundry washing and drying machines, air-cooled condensers are widely used, that realize the condensation process by using the outer environment air in the drying process after the washing step. Humid air that comes from over the laundry and passes through the processing air channel is condensed in the condenser cooled by means of the outer environment air, thus the air that is dried by being dehumidified is sent again onto the laundry through the processing air channel. Fibers and lint from the laundry fluttering during the drying process accumulate on the condenser. If not cleaned, fibers and lint clog the air passage lines in the condenser and adversely affect the efficiency of the condenser. The condenser and the air channels connected thereto are washed by means of a water spraying device connected to the water mains by means of a valve in order to cleanse them of fibers and lint. The condenser is generally washed at the end of the drying process, since, during the drying of the laundry, most of the fibers and lint adhere onto the condenser towards the end of the drying cycle. A small amount of water such as 3 - 4 liters is used for washing the condenser especially in order to reduce the water consumption; however, when the pressure of water coming from water mains is low, the condenser cannot be properly cleansed of the fibers and lint with a small amount of water with low pressure.

In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2169107, a spraying device is described, providing the condenser in a laundry dryer to be washed and thus cleaned of fiber and lint at the end of the drying process.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry washing and drying machine comprising an air-cooled condenser that is effectively cleansed of the fibers and lint adhering thereon.

The laundry washing and drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a detergent dispenser wherein the chemical cleaning agents are placed, an air-cooled condenser that condenses the processing air and a first valve connected to the water supply (the water mains), providing the water taken from the mains for washing to be delivered to the detergent dispenser and the tub and a second valve again connected to the water supply, that delivers water onto the condenser, providing the fibers and lint adhering onto the condenser to be removed at the end of the drying process.

The control unit opens the second valve while water is being taken from the water supply at the beginning of the laundry washing program and thus some of the water required for the laundry washing program is filled into the tub after washing the air ventilation duct and the condenser.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit keeps the first valve open for a predetermined period, for example until 5 liters of water is sent in order to flush the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser, and opens the second valve after closing the first valve.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit opens the first valve and the second valve at the same time during the water intake from the water supply, closes the first valve after the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser are flushed and closes the second valve after the tub is filled with the required amount of water.

The control unit provides that approximately 10 % of the water needed for the washing of the laundry is filled into the tub from the first valve and through the detergent dispenser, and approximately 90 % from the second valve and through the air ventilation duct - the condenser.

In the laundry washing and drying machine of the present invention, the water taken from the water supply for laundry washing is passed through the condenser, thus providing the fibers and lint adhering onto the condenser to be cleansed with plenty of water even if the mains pressure is low; and an additional condenser washing program is not needed to be applied for cleaning the condenser.

The laundry washing and drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a laundry washing and drying machine.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Laundry washing and drying machine
Drum
Tub
Detergent dispenser
Air circulation duct
Fan
Condenser
Outer air line
Heater
Control unit
First valve
Second valve

The laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry is placed, a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) moves, a detergent dispenser (4) wherein the chemical cleaning agents to be used in the laundry washing process are placed, an air ventilation duct (5) wherein the processing air circulation providing the laundry to be dried at the drying process after the washing process is realized, a fan (6) providing the circulation of the processing air, an air-cooled condenser (7) condensing the processing air, an outer air line (8) that delivers the cooling air received from the outer environment to the condenser (7), providing the cooling of the condenser (7), a heater (9) placed into the air ventilation duct (5), heating the dehumidified processing air coming from the condenser (7) and a control unit (10) controlling the washing-drying programs. In the laundry washing and drying machine (1), the laundry washing program and the laundry drying program are respectively applied.

The laundry washing and drying machine (1) furthermore comprises a first valve (11) providing water to be taken from the water supply (S) at the beginning of the laundry washing program and to be sent to the tub (3) through the detergent dispenser (4) and a second valve (12) providing water to be taken from the water supply (S) to be sent to the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) in order that laundry fibers and lint that are carried with the processing air and that adhere to the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) are removed.

The laundry washing and drying machine (1) of the present invention comprises the control unit (10) that opens the second valve (12) during the water intake from the water supply (S) at the beginning of the laundry washing program, thereby providing some of the water required for washing the laundry to be passed through the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) and to be filled into the tub (3) after the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) are washed.

In the laundry washing and drying machine (1), during the water intake at the beginning of the laundry washing program, the second valve (12) is opened by the control unit (10) and consequently wash water passes through the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) and then is filled into the tub (3). Thus, fibers and lint adhered onto the condenser (7) during the previous washing-drying program are provided to be cleansed with plenty of water.

In an embodiment of the present invention, while water is being taken from the water supply (S) at the beginning of the laundry washing program, the control unit (10) keeps the first valve (11) open for a predetermined period recorded in its memory for the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser (4) to be flushed and after closing the first valve (11), opens the second valve (12), thus providing the remainder of the water required for the washing of the laundry to be filled into the tub (3) by following the second valve (12) - air ventilation duct (5) - condenser (7) path. By opening the two valves (11, 12) respectively, the pressure of the water flushing the detergent dispenser (4) by means of the first valve (11) and the pressure of the water cleansing the condenser (7) of fibers and lint by means of the second valve (12) are prevented from decreasing.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) opens the first valve (11) and the second valve (12) at the same time while water is being taken from the water supply (S) at the beginning of the laundry washing program, and keeps the first valve (11) open until the agents in the detergent dispenser (4) are flushed and the second valve (12) open until the amount of water required for the washing of the laundry is filled into the tub (3). In this embodiment, during the water intake from the water mains, at first both valves (11, 12) are kept open, thereby decreasing the time required for water to fill the tub (3).

The control unit (10) regulates the opening/closing durations of the first valve (11) and the second valve (12), thereby providing 10 % of the water required for the laundry washing program to be filled into the tub (3) through the first valve (11) - the detergent dispenser (4) and 90 % thereof through the second valve (12) - the air ventilation duct (5) - the condenser (7).

At the beginning of the laundry washing program applied in the laundry washing and drying machine (1), some of the water to be filled into the tub (3) for washing the laundry is passed through the detergent dispenser (4) by the first valve (11) being opened for a short period of time by the control unit (10). Only a small part of water required for washing is needed for the cleaning agents to be flushed from the detergent dispenser (4), the large part of laundry washing water is filled into the tub (3) after being passed through the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) by means of the second valve (12) being kept open longer than the first valve (11) by the control unit (10). In the laundry washing and drying machine (1), for example 55 liters of water is required for the laundry washing program, approximately 5 liters of this amount is sent to the tub (3) through the detergent dispenser (4) by opening the first valve (11) and approximately 50 liters thereof is sent to the tub (3) through the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) by opening the second valve (12).

In the laundry washing and drying machine (1), a separate condenser (7) washing process is not applied for cleansing the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) of fibers and lint adhering thereon. Fibers and lint adhering onto the condenser (7) are washed away with plenty of water during the water intake at the beginning of the laundry washing program. Even if the pressure of the water supplied from the water mains is low, a successful condenser (7) cleaning is provided and total water consumption is decreased.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection disclosed by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A laundry washing and drying machine (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry is placed, a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) moves, a detergent dispenser (4), an air ventilation duct (5) wherein the processing air circulation providing the laundry to be dried is realized, an air-cooled condenser (7) condensing the processing air, a control unit (10), a first valve (11) providing water to be taken form the water supply (S) at the beginning of the laundry washing program and to be sent to the tub (3) through the detergent dispenser (4) and a second valve (12) providing water to be taken from the water supply (S) to be sent to the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) in order that laundry fibers and lint that are carried with the processing air and that adhere to the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) are removed, characterized in that the control unit (10) for opening the second valve (12) during the water intake from the water supply (S), thereby providing some of the water to be filled into the tub (3) after the air ventilation duct (5) and the condenser (7) are washed.
A laundry washing and drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (10) for keeping the first valve (11) open until the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser (4) are flushed and for opening the second valve (12) after closing the first valve (11).
A laundry washing and drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (10) for opening the first valve (11) and the second valve (12) at the same time and for keeping the first valve (11) open until the agents in the detergent dispenser (4) are flushed and the second valve (12) open until the amount of water required for the washing of the laundry is filled into the tub (3).
A laundry washing and drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the control unit (10) for providing 10 % of the water required for the laundry washing to be filled into the tub (3) through the first valve (11) - the detergent dispenser (4) and 90 % thereof through the second valve (12) - the air ventilation duct (5) - the condenser (7).