Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/0018—Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control
  • A47L15/0055—Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/42—Details
  • A47L15/4297—Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
  • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
  • D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
  • D06F33/34—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of water filling
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
  • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
  • D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
  • D06F33/37—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of metering of detergents or additives
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
  • D06F34/22—Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
  • A47L2401/02—Consumable products information, e.g. information on detergent, rinsing aid or salt; Dispensing device information, e.g. information on the type, e.g. detachable, or status of the device
  • A47L2401/023—Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
  • A47L2501/01—Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
  • A47L2501/07—Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/20—Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
  • D06F2103/22—Content of detergent or additives
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/02—Water supply
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/42—Detergent or additive supply

Definitions

• the present invention is a household appliance, such. a GeschiiTülmaschine or washing machine, with a system for supplying detergent into the cleaning liquid and a method for operating the same.
• one or more cleaning premyers are carried out in the course of the cleaning program, wherein the washing liquor or the washing liquor is mixed with washing-active substances to improve the cleaning results.
• a clear phase in which the rinse liquor is mixed with a rinse aid. So far, however, a fixed amount of washing or rinsing the cleaning liquid is added to the above household appliances.
• surfactants are often used as detergent substances, which have the property of lowering the surface tension of liquids and thus increase the Remistss so.
• the detergent activity of surfactants is highly dependent on their concentration. With increasing surfactant content, for example, the surface tension of the solution drops sharply until, after exceeding a certain, substance-specific limit, saturation occurs, so that a further increase in the concentration causes only slight changes in the surface tension of the solution.
• the size of this limit depends on a number of factors, including temperature and the content of organic matter or ions in the solution. At a lower surfactant concentration, the intended cleaning effect is reduced; An increase above the optimal level, however, brings with it economic and environmental disadvantages.
• the dosage of surfactants in the cleaning liquid is usually carried out by adding an empirical or prescribed amount.
• the dependence of the cleaning effect on several factors, such as temperature, hardness of the water, degree of contamination and type of contamination must be taken into account.
• a significantly increased dosage is often made to compensate for the consumption of surfactants that combine with contaminants.
• Dishwashing machines are known in which the water hardness of the cleaning liquid is determined by suitable sensors in order to determine the added amount of rinse aid at the end of the rinse program. Other criteria determining the amount of cleaning agent required, such as e.g. the load condition of the dishwasher or the present type of dirt of the items to be cleaned, but are not taken into account.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a Geschin Pattersonmaschine or washing machine with a device that takes into account the loading condition of the dishwasher or the present type of dirt to be cleaned washing or washing, in order for optimum cleaning effect to determine and regulate the required amount of washing-active substances in the cleaning fluid.
• a system for supplying detergent is provided in the cleaning liquid, which comprises a sensor which determines the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process , As well as a metering device that supplies additional cleaning agent at too low a content of washing-active substances of the cleaning liquid or feeds fresh water at too high a content of washing-active substances of the cleaning liquid.
• the household appliance according to the invention has the advantage that the content of detergent substances in the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process continuously determined and on this basis, the addition of detergent to the cleaning liquid regardless of influences such. Pollution degree, temperature and water hardness is controlled in order to achieve the optimum content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid. Thus both an underdose with insufficient cleaning effect and an overdose with negative economic and ecological consequences can be avoided. In this way, on the one hand, the duration of the washing or rinsing program, the cleaning performance and the consumption of resources are optimized and, on the other hand, the environmental influences are minimized.
• the required amount of cleaning agent can be determined independently of different active ingredients and thus independently of the manufacturer of the cleaning agent and optimally dosed. This effect results from the function of the sensor, which determines only the concentration of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid. This effect is particularly advantageous in combination with the use of an automatic dosing system in which a sufficient amount of detergent for several cleaning operations can be accommodated. During the cleaning process, the automatic dosing system only dispenses to the cleaning liquid the amount of cleaning agent required on the basis of the content of washing-active substances determined by the sensor.
• the amount of cleaning agent delivered to the cleaning fluid during a cleaning process is only a fraction of the volume of cleaning agent that can be stored in the metering device. As a result, it is no longer necessary for the user to refill the reservoir of the metering device before each start of a cleaning cycle. Instead, the storage container of the metering device can also be filled only after a number of cleaning cycles, when all the detergent stored in the reservoir of the metering device has been used up.
• the concentration of washing-active substances may change depending on the type and amount of (residual) contamination of the laundry or ware to be cleaned. Due to the continuous measurement of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid conclusions can be drawn regarding the nature and intensity of the (residual) contamination of the washing or ware.
• the concentration of the washing-active substances can then be adjusted by supplying the cleaning fluid with either a certain volume of additional cleaning agent or a certain volume of fresh water.
• a simple, dynamic measuring system for determining the content of washing-active substances (surfactants or surfactants) in the cleaning liquid is, for example, a tensiometer.
• a signal proportional to the surface tension of the cleaning liquid is generated by the so-called bubble pressure method, which corresponds to the surfactant content in the cleaning fluid corresponds.
• a bubble tensiometer according to the bubble pressure method has at least one capillary which leads into the cleaning liquid and from which a predetermined gas flow with a certain capillary pressure escapes into the liquid with the formation of bubbles.
• the gas used is usually air, and in principle, other gases are used.
• the bubble pressure method can also detect a decreasing concentration of surfactants in the cleaning fluid, for example during rinsing operations.
• the accompanying drawing shows a diagram which changes the profile of the surface tension of an air bubble pressed into the cleaning liquid in the manner described above as a function of the surface age.
• the surface age is plotted from 0 to 600 ms, while the y-axis of the diagram shows the surface tension of 20 to 80 mN / m.
• a total of six curves are shown, which are based on different concentrations of surfactants or washing-active substances in the cleaning process. refer to liquid.
• the uppermost curve 1 relates to a measurement of the surface tension of an air bubble submerged in pure water without detergent additive, which consequently has a surfactant content of 0 ml.
• Curve 2 relates to a surfactant content of 1 ml / l in the cleaning fluid, curve 3 to a surfactant content of 2 ml / l in the cleaning fluid, curve 4 to a surfactant content of 3 ml / l in the cleaning fluid, curve 5 to a surfactant content of 5 ml / l in the cleaning fluid and curve 6 to a surfactant content of 10 ml / l in the cleaning fluid.
• a higher concentration of surfactants or washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid reduces the surface tension of an air bubble immersed in the cleaning liquid.
• a surfactant content of 1 ml / l causes a surface tension of the air bubble immersed in the cleaning liquid of about 70 mN / m at a surface age of 100 ms to about 70 mN / m at a surface age of 600 ms
• the surface tension becomes one into the cleaning liquid with a surfactant content of 10 m submerged air bubble of about 48 mN / m at a surface age of 100 ms to about 37 mN / m with a surface age of 600 ms reduced.
• the measurement of the surface tension by means of the above-described bubble printing method has the advantage that, due to the flat profile of the surface tension as a function of the surface age, a reliable and relatively time-independent determination of the surface tension of in the cleaning liquid immersed bubble and thus the content of surfactants or detergent substances in the cleaning liquid allows.
• a further advantage of this bubble pressure method is that the surface tension measured at the air bubble is largely independent of its depth of immersion in the cleaning fluid.
• the determination of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid by a tensiometer by means of the bubble pressure method is suitable for optimizing the washing programs of dishwashers and washing machines by determining the surfactant content in the cleaning liquid according to the present invention and correcting it if necessary.
• the content of washing-active substances (wetting agents or surfactants) in the cleaning liquid is determined by means of a suitable sensor, preferably a tensiometer or surfactant sensor during the cleaning phase.
• This content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid which is determined by the surfactant sensor, is then used in a metering system to determine the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning agent.
• the cleaning liquid is mixed with additional detergent or the already existing in the household cleaning fluid more fresh water is supplied to reduce the concentration of detergent substances in the cleaning liquid.
• the evaluation of the signals supplied by the surfactant sensor and the evaluation of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid and the subsequent control of the supply of cleaning agent and / or fresh water is preferably carried out by an electronic control.
• the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid, determined by the sensor during the cleaning operation to be displayed via suitable display means, possibly assisted by an acoustic signal, and the operator independently adjusts the addition of cleaning agents during the cleaning operation on the basis of the indicated concentration value ,
• the principle underlying the present invention consists in making a continuous determination of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process.
• various automatic functions are already known, such as e.g. the automatic sequence control of the dishwashing program in dishwashers by an electronic control or the automatic control of the temperature of the cleaning liquid.
• the determination of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid is carried out continuously or at least at short time intervals during the cleaning process.
• the sensor for determining the content of washing-active substances in the domestic appliance should preferably be arranged so that it is as continuously as possible surrounded by cleaning liquid during the cleaning process.
• the content of washing-active substances can be controlled unimaginably during the cleaning process and the system can respond quickly to concentration blackouts.
• the reaction time for correcting the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid can be further increased if the system for supplying cleaning agent into the cleaning liquid is controlled by an electronic control depending on the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid determined by the sensor.
• the determination of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid can also be carried out from the signal supplied by the sensor via electronic means.
• the cleaning process itself is also regulated as a function of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid determined by the sensor. It can be provided, for example, that at least part of the cleaning process is repeated in dependence on the determined by the sensor content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid. This makes it possible for the cleaning process to be repeated or prolonged if the determination of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid or its time course determines that the soiling of the laundry or ware to be cleaned requires a more intensive cleaning process.
• the cleaning process is omitted or terminated in the cleaning liquid as a function of the content of washing-active substances determined by the sensor. This gives the possibility that the cleaning process is abbreviated or aborted prematurely, if it is determined via the determination of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid or its time course that the contamination of the washing or cleaning items to be cleaned is low and only a short Cleaning process required.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=34441942

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (24)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-14 DE DE10347766A patent/DE10347766A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2004
  • 2004-10-13 WO PCT/EP2004/052530 patent/WO2005038119A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2004-10-13 KR KR1020067006501A patent/KR20060128851A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2004-10-13 ES ES04791219T patent/ES2356082T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-13 PL PL04791219T patent/PL1675996T3/pl unknown
  • 2004-10-13 DE DE502004012032T patent/DE502004012032D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-13 AT AT04791219T patent/ATE492676T1/de active
  • 2004-10-13 EP EP04791219A patent/EP1675996B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-13 US US10/575,613 patent/US20070102024A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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