EP2362009B1 - Water-guiding household device comprising a housing and a washing powder drawer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a laundry treatment appliance for washing and / or drying laundry. Specifically, the invention relates to the field of washing machines and washer-dryers.

From the DE 20 2006 019 468 U1 an arrangement with a Einspülschale and a shell handle for a washing machine is known. Here, the tray handle has a handle opening through which a user can grip with one hand to pull the dispenser tray on the tray handle from a housing of the washing machine.

From the US 2006/0075790 A1 is a washing machine known. The known washing machine has a detergent container, a housing and a filter. The detergent container is arranged on one side of the machine. A stream of air is routed out of the washing machine via pipes. The detergent container is in this case with respect to the air flow between the tubes, so that the air flow flows through the filter of the detergent container.

The publication EP 16 45 675 A1 belongs to the same patent family as the one mentioned above US 2006/0075790 A1 and shows a washing machine with a container in which a detergent can be absorbed. Diagonally arranged in the interior of the container, a filter is provided, which is to filter out fluff from a flowing out of the washing machine air.

In a washing machine, it is conceivable that ozone is used to improve the washing or cleaning result. For this purpose, for example, ozone can be introduced into a tub or the like of the washing machine in order to come into contact there with the laundry to be treated. There is the problem that in general a gas-tight design of the washing machine is not allowed, but on the other hand, the leakage of ozone from the washing machine is not desirable and possibly also not allowed. Specifically, the ozone could escape through the dispenser tray.

An object of the invention is to provide a water-conducting domestic appliance, in which the escape of undesirable gases is prevented or at least reduced. Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a water-conducting domestic appliance, in which an application of ozone for the treatment of laundry or the like is possible without ozone is released into the environment.

The object is achieved by an inventive water-conducting household appliance according to the attached independent claim.

The measures listed in the dependent claims preferred and advantageous developments of the household appliance according to the invention are possible.

It is advantageous and preferred that the filter device comprises at least one ozone filter. In this case, it is also advantageous that the ozone filter filters an ozone contained in the gas flow by absorption and / or chemical reaction, in particular by decomposition. As a result, the proportion of ozone in the outflowing gas flow can be consumed so that no or at least only a reduced amount of ozone escapes.

It is also advantageous and preferred that the gas flow is passed through the filter device or that the gas flow is guided in intimate contact along the filter device. Here, the filter device is placed so that the escaping from the treatment area gas flow must flow through the filter device or in intimate contact on the filter device along.

It is further advantageous that the filter device is adjustably arranged on the engagement and that a detection element is provided which detects an adjustment of the filter device. For example, the filter device may be pivotally mounted on the tray handle. In this case, a spring may be provided, which adjusts the filter device in a position in which the engagement is closed. If the user adjusts the filter device upon engagement, then the sensing element detects the displacement, thereby advantageously allowing for interruption of the use of ozone or the like in the treatment area. In this case, an extended position of the dispenser can be detected to prevent the use of ozone or the like in the treatment area.

The filter device may advantageously and preferably comprise a catalyst or an activated carbon element. In this case, the filter device may comprise, for example, a frame and a gas-permeable filling arranged in the frame, wherein the filling is configured as a fleece, as an open-pore foam or as a grid. Specifically, activated carbon has the advantage of being a simple but effective ozone depleting agent. The activated carbon is degraded by reaction with the ozone to gaseous and so far harmless carbon dioxide.

Fig. 1

ein wasserführendes Hausgerät in einer auszugsweisen, schematischen Schnittdarstellung.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a water-conducting household appliance in a partial, schematic sectional view.

Fig. 1 shows a water-bearing domestic appliance 1 in a partial, schematic sectional view. The water-bearing domestic appliance 1 can in particular be configured as a laundry treatment appliance and serve for washing and / or drying laundry. Specifically, the water-bearing household appliance 1 as a washing machine or Washer dryer be configured. However, the water-bearing domestic appliance 1 is also suitable for other applications.

The domestic appliance 1 has a housing 2 and an induction bowl 3. The housing 2 is usually designed in several parts and composed of different components. Here, the housing 2 may comprise a shell housing 4, in which the dispenser shell 3 can be inserted. In the in the Fig. 1 shown position, the dispenser 3 is completely inserted into the housing 2. Depending on the design of the dispenser shell 3, this can also protrude somewhat out of the housing 2 in the inserted position.

The dispenser tray 3 has one or more chambers 5, which serve to receive laundry treatment means. For example, a pulverulent laundry treatment agent, in particular a heavy-duty detergent, a liquid laundry treatment agent, in particular a softener, or also another treatment agent, in particular an impregnating agent, can be introduced into the chamber 5.

The dispenser tray 3 has a tray handle 6. A front side 7 of the dispenser 3 is in this case configured on the tray handle 6. The dispenser 3 can also be designed in several parts. For example, the shell handle 6 may be plugged together with a container part enclosing the chamber 5.

The shell grip 6 has an engagement 8, in front of which, seen from the front side 7, a grip region 9 is formed. The grip area 9 is closed by a filter device 10. The filter device 10 comprises a frame 11 and a filling 12 arranged in the frame 11. The frame 11 surrounds the filling 12. In this case, the filter device 10 is pivotably arranged via a bearing 13. The filter device 10 can be pivoted about the bearing 13 in an opening direction 14.

Above the filter device 10, a detection element 15 is arranged with a pin 16. The pin 16 can be inserted into a housing 17 of the detection element 15. For example, the detection element 15 may have the function of a button, so that when pushed in pin 16 a Circuit is closed. The detection element 15 is connected, for example, to a controller of the water-conducting domestic appliance 1.

When opening the filter device 10 in the opening direction 14, the pin 16 is pressed into the housing 17 after a certain pivot angle, whereby the detection element 15 is actuated. As a result, an adjustment of the filter device 10 can be detected. In this position of the filter device 10, the user can pull the dispenser 3 out of the housing 2 by engaging with one hand in the grip area 9.

In the bearing 13, a helical spring may be integrated, the filter device 10 in the in the Fig. 1 illustrated closed position holds.

In the operation of the water-bearing domestic appliance 1, ozone or another, comparably acting gas can be used to improve a treatment or cleaning success. It must be ensured that no or only a harmless amount of ozone escapes from the housing 2. On the other hand, the housing 2 may not be completely sealed, since, for example, electrical components are in the housing 2.

The household appliance 1 has a free ventilation of the treatment area. For example, the treatment area can be configured within a tub. The water-bearing domestic appliance 1 then has a free liquor tank ventilation. In this case, a gas flow of gases from the treatment area via the dispenser tray 3 out of the housing 2 may occur, as illustrated by the arrows 18, 19, 20. The gas flow occurs here via the gas-permeable filling 12 of the filter device 10. Otherwise, the housing 2 is at least substantially sealed in the region of the dispensing tray 3. If, for example, the tub is filled with ozone-containing air, then part of the ozone also enters the shell housing 4.

In addition to the natural decay of ozone, which depends on time and reactions with surface contaminants such as fats or biofilms, there are other possibilities of controlled ozone depletion. In addition to other suitable catalyst materials and temperatures of about 300 ° C, activated carbon is a simple, but effective means of ozone depletion. The activated carbon is degraded to gaseous carbon dioxide.

In the in the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, the filter device 10 acts as a filter. On the other hand, the filter device 10 has the function of a closing flap for the recessed grip formed by the grip 8 of the shell handle 6. The air-permeable filling 12 may be configured in the form of a nonwoven, an open-cell foam or a grid. The filling 12 is made of or coated with an ozone-depleting material. In question come substances such as a suitable catalyst for the degradation of ozone or activated carbon. When the dispenser shell 3 is closed, the flap 10, which is closed by the spring force and formed by the filter device 10, is closed so that an air exchange takes place from the tub exclusively via the filling 12 of the filter device 10.

If the user pushes back the filter device 10 during the supply of ozone into the treatment area and the detection element 15 is actuated, the control of the water-conducting domestic appliance 1 advantageously interrupts the further supply of ozone-containing air into the tub. As a result, no more ozone enters the dispensing bowl 3. To interrupt the ozone supply can also serve another suitable mechanism or an electrical circuit.

The presence of the additional, ozone-depleting filter device 10 thus reliably prevents the uncontrolled escape of ozone from the housing 2 of the water-bearing domestic appliance 1, without the necessary ventilation of the tub is obstructed.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Water-conducting household appliance

2

casing

3

dispenser tray

4

shell case

5

chamber

6

Bar handle

7

front

8th

intervention

9

grip area

10

filter means

11

frame

12

filling

13

camp

14

opening direction

15

sensing element

16

pen

17

casing

18 - 20

Arrows to illustrate the gas flow

Claims (8)

1. Water-guiding household appliance (1), especially laundry care appliance for washing and/or drying items of laundry, with a housing (2), a washing powder drawer (3) which is able to be pushed at least partly into the housing (2) and a laundry care area, wherein a flow of gases from the laundry care area via the washing powder drawer (3) out of the housing (2) is made possible, wherein the washing powder drawer (3) has at least one filter apparatus (10) via which the gas flow is guided, wherein the washing powder drawer (3) has drawer handle (6), characterised in that the filter apparatus (10) is disposed on the drawer handle (6), wherein the drawer handle (6) has a recess (8) in a handle area and that the filter apparatus (10) is used for closing off the recess (8).
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the filter apparatus (10) comprises at least an ozone filter (12).
3. Household appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the ozone filter (12) filters ozone contained in the gas flow by absorption and/or decomposition and/or chemical reaction.
4. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gas flow is at least essentially guided through the filter apparatus (10) or that the gas flow is at least essentially guided along the filter apparatus (10).
5. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter apparatus (10) is disposed adjustably on the recess (8) and that a detection element (15) is provided which detects an adjustment of the filter apparatus (10).
6. Household appliance according to claim 5, characterised in that ozone is able to be used in the laundry care area and that with a detection of the adjustment of the filter apparatus (10) by the detection unit (15) the further supply of air containing ozone into the tub is interrupted by the controller of the household appliance.
7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter apparatus (10) has at least one catalytic converter (12). and/or at least one activated carbon element (12).
8. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter apparatus (10) has a frame (11) and a gas-permeable filling (12) disposed in the frame (11) which is embodied as fleece, as open-pore foam or as a mesh.

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