DK2628842T3

DK2628842T3 - Laundry Treatment Cabinet

Info

Publication number: DK2628842T3
Application number: DK13002394.8T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Ingo Gau; Ernst Dober; Thomas Küttel; Sawsan Kheyo; Stefan Flück
Original assignee: V-Zug Ag
Priority date: 2013-05-06
Filing date: 2013-05-06
Publication date: 2017-03-20
Also published as: EP2628842A1; EP2628842B1; PL2628842T3; SI2628842T1

Description

Technical Field

The invention relates to a laundry treatment cabinet such as a laundry drying cabinet. Thereby, it is a device with a stationary, i.e. not rotating, usable space in operation, in which the laundry is inserted for treatment. Additionally, the device has means for the treatment of laundry such as a drying apparatus or a steam apparatus. Cabinets of this kind serve e.g. to dry laundry, but also for refreshing or for flavour treating the laundry.

Background Art A cabinet dryer for laundry is described in EP 2 330 247, in which the process air is sucked from the usable space through a lower venting opening and transported through the evaporator and the condenser of a heat pump arrangement for drying and heating. Then, the air is transported by air transport means through a connecting channel at the rear side of the device to venting openings at the top, from where the air is inserted again into the usable space. Thereby, the heat pump arrangement is arranged in a socket part below the usable space.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment cabinet which has improved laundry treatment properties.

This object is solved by the laundry treatment cabinet according to claim 1. According to this, the laundry treatment cabinet has a usable space with venting opening for blowing process air into the usable space. At least a part of the venting openings is arranged at the roof of the usable space for generating an air flow flowing from the roof towards the bottom in the usable space.

Furthermore, auxiliary means for generating an air flow directed obliquely towards the top in the usable space are provided. Thereby, an air flow flowing from the top towards the bottom is combined with an air flow flowing obliquely towards the top. It has been noted that the improved ventilation of the laundry achieved in this way allows, inter alia, to shorten the process duration, to dry the laundry (in a drying process) faster and to achieve more homogenous results, e.g. in case of the preparation of "ironing dry" laundry. The reduction of the process duration leads to a reduction of the energy consumption of the device.

An "air flow flowing obliquely towards the top" is understood to be an air flow in case of which the speed vector averaged over all air molecules is directed obliquely towards the top, i.e. is directed towards the top, but does not flow in a parallel way to the vertical.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mentioned auxiliary means comprise a fan with a blowing direction arranged obliquely to the vertical. This sucks process air from the usable space and discharges it into the air flow directed obliquely towards the top into the usable space again.

In another advantageous embodiment, the auxiliary means have nozzles which are arranged in a lateral wall of the usable space. Process air is inserted from outside into the air flow directed obliquely towards the top via these nozzles.

It has been noted that a particular good air mixture can be reached if the mentioned auxiliary means are arranged in the lower third of the usable space.

The invention is appropriate in particular for a laundry treatment cabinet with a steam generator for inserting steam, e.g. via the connecting channel, into the usable space or with a flavour generator for inserting a flavour into the usable space, because in this case the steam or the flavour, respectively, are inserted homogenously into the laundry.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention arise from the dependent claims and the following description according to the figures. Thereby, it is shown in:

Fig. 1 a vertical cross section through a laundry treatment cabinet,

Fig. 2 a vertical cross section along the line II - II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 a horizontal cross section through the laundry treatment cabinet of Fig. 1 along the Line III -III of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 a block diagram of the most important functional components of the device and

Fig. 5 a vertical cross section through a second embodiment of the laundry treatment cabinet.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

An embodiment of the invention is described in the following by the example of a laundry treatment cabinet. It is a device in which idle or hanging laundry is treated e.g. by steam treatment and/or drying.

In the following, a side of the device where the door is arranged is called front side, via which the user has access to the usable space. The rear side is the side opposed to the front side. Terms like "in front of", "rear", "at the back" relate to this reference system, i.e. the door is e.g. in front of the usable space and the usable space is in front of the rear side.

The term "lateral" relates to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction between the front and the rear. For example, the connecting channel is arranged laterally with respect to a lateral wall of the usable space, i.e. the lateral wall of the usable space and the connecting channel overlap in a horizontal viewing direction parallel to the front side.

As already mentioned, terms like "top", "above", "bottom" and "below" relate to the device when mounted as required, where the socket part is located below the usable space and the stick for receiving clothes hangers is attached at a top end of the usable space. In the same way, terms like "horizontal" and "vertical" relate to this mounting as required, i.e. the bottom wall of the usable space, which separates the usable space from the socket part, is e.g. arranged substantially horizontally, while the lateral walls standing approximately perpendicular to the bottom wall, the rear wall and the door of the usable space are arranged substantially vertically.

An advantageous embodiment of the laundry treatment cabinet is shown in Fig. 1-3, wherein important functional components are shown again isolated in Fig. 4.

As can be seen, the laundry treatment cabinet 10 has a substantially rectangular-shaped casing 11 with a usable space 12 which is also substantially rectangular-shaped. A socket part 13 is arranged below the usable space 12. A substantially vertical shaft 14 is provided laterally on the device and also laterally with respect to the usable space 12 (in the present text also called connecting channel) . An upper part or a roof space 15, respectively, is arranged above the usable space 12.

The cabinet 10 is limited to the rear side by a rear wall 16, laterally by lateral walls 17, 18, at the top by a roof 19, at the bottom by a floor 20 and to the front by a door 21 for filling the usable space 12. The usable space 12 serves to receive the laundry. For this, suitable means for receiving the laundry are provided inside the usable space, like for example a stick 23 for receiving clothes hangers and possibly further means for receiving the laundry, like baskets, grids etc. The usable space 12 is accessible by the user via the door 21. A heat pump arrangement 22 comprising a compressor 30, a condenser 31, an additional heat exchanger 32, an expansion valve 33 and an evaporator 34 is provided inside the socket part 13. A medium is guided by means of the compressor 30, as known, through the condenser 31, the additional heat exchanger 32, the expansion valve 33, the evaporator 34 and back to the compressor 30, such that the condenser 31 is heated up and the evaporator 34 is cooled down. The additional heat exchanger 32 serves, in the way described in EP 2 034 084, to extract heat from the system. For this, a fan 35 is provided, which guides cooling air from the environment through the additional heat exchanger 32 and via the expansion valve 33 and the compressor 30.

Furthermore, a steam generator 36 is provided in the socket part 13, by means of which steam can be generated. As for example described in EP 2 330 247, the steam can be used during normal operation of the laundry treatment cabinet 10 for freshening up and/or de-crinkeling the laundry. The steam generator 36 is connected to the shaft 14 by a channel 37, in the following also called "outlet" of the stream generator, via an entry opening 39, . In the shown example the entry opening 39 is arranged close to the bottom end of the shaft 14.

Additionally, a container with two tanks (not shown), which can be taken out, are arranged in the socket part 13. One of these tanks is a fresh water tank for the steam generator 36, and the other one is a condensate water tank for water which is pumped from a trough in the bottom of the socket part 13.

Venting openings 42 are provided at the roof 41 of the usable space 12 by means of which an air flow 43 flowing from the top towards the bottom in the usable space 12 is generated. The air inserted into the usable space 12 in this way leaves it again via an outlet opening 44 in the bottom 45 of the usable space. A channel 46 located inside the socket part 13 is arranged below the outlet opening 44. The channel 46 is part of the circulation system through which the air is transported for preparation.

Replaceable filters 47, 48 are arranged in a usual manner in the first tapering channel section of the channel 46, in order to keep dirt away from the heat exchangers of the evaporator 34 and the condenser 31.

The evaporator 34 and the condenser 31 are arranged in a following second channel section of the channel 46. The channel 46 guides the air in this section through the heat exchangers of the evaporator 34 and the condenser 31 . A third channel section of the channel 46 follows the condenser 31 in air flow direction, which opens after a further tapering into the suction area of the radial fan 50 which forms the air transport means for transporting the process air.

The radial fan 50 is arranged in the lateral shaft 14 of the laundry treatment cabinet 10. The air is guided by the radial fan 50 through the vertically running shaft 14, in which it can rise to the roof space 15 of the device. A light source 51 and at least a catalyser surface 52 for photo catalytic air treatment are arranged in the shaft 14 itself. Household devices with such cata-lysers are e.g. known from EP 2241826 A1. A heater 53 is arranged above the light source 51 in the shaft 14, by means of which the air circulating in the device 10 can be heated up if necessary. A horizontally running roof channel 55 follows the connection channel 14 at its upper end, being arranged above the usable space 12. The venting openings 42 are connected to this roof channel such that the air can stream from the roof channel 55 from the top into the usable space 12, as already described. The path through the laundry treatment cabinet 10, which is taken by the air, forms the main part of a circulation system, as described, wherein further parts of the circulation system, like potential suction openings and exhaust air openings, are not shown for the sake of a better overview.

Furthermore, the drying cabinet 10 has an operating console which isn't further shown, with input and output means which serves to control or monitor, respectively, the laundry treatment cabinet. The input and/or output means are connected to a device control 56 (Fig. 4), which controls operation of the different components of the device.

Furthermore, the auxiliary means 60 mentioned above are arranged in the usable space 12, by means of which the air flow 61 directed obliquely towards the top is generated. These auxiliary means 60 are advantageously arranged at a vertical lateral wall 65 of the usable space 12.

The vertical lateral wall 65, at which the auxiliary means 60 are arranged, is advantageously arranged in a parallel way to the stick 23 such that the averaged speed vector of the air flow 61 is in the plane perpendicular to the stick 23. In this way, pieces of laundry which have been hung on clothes hangers at the stick 23 are optimally aerated.

In the illustrated embodiment the auxiliary means 60 comprise a fan 62, which is fixed in the hanger 63. The blow direction of the fan is arranged obliquely to the vertical, with an angle a. This angle is advantageously about 45° ± 15°.

In order to reach an as good as possible air mixture, at least 75 % of the air flow generated by the auxiliary means 60 should move in an angle range between 30° and 60° relatively to the vertical direction. A second embodiment of the laundry treatment cabinet is shown in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, the men tioned auxiliary means 60 are formed by nozzles 70 which are connected with the shaft 14 and deflect a part of the process air rising in the shaft 14 into the usable space 12. The air flow 61 flowing obliquely to the top in the usable space 12 can also be generated in this way. A steam generator 36, which inserts steam into the circulation system of the process air, is provided for steaming the laundry in the embodiments of the invention illustrated so far. A flavour generator can be provided additionally or alternatively to the steam generator, which inserts a flavour into the process air. Advantageously, this flavour is inserted into the usable space.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in this application, it is clearly noted that the invention is not restricted to them and may be carried out in the other ways within the scope of the now following claims.

Claims

1. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab (10) med et nytterum (12) og med ventilations-åbninger (42) til indblæsning af procesluft i nytterummet (12), hvor mindst en del af ventilationsåbningerne (42) er anbragt i et loft (41) af nytterummet (12) for at generere en luftstrøm (43) i nytterummet (12), der render nedad fra loftet, kendetegnet ved, at der er tilvejebragt hjælpemidler (60) til generering af en skråt opad orienteret luftstrøm (61) i nytterummet (12).A laundry treatment cabinet (10) with a utility room (12) and with ventilation openings (42) for supplying process air to the utility room (12), wherein at least a portion of the ventilation openings (42) is arranged in a ceiling (41) of the utility room ( 12) to generate an air stream (43) in the utility room (12) projecting downwardly from the ceiling, characterized in that auxiliary means (60) are provided for generating an obliquely upwardly oriented air stream (61) in the utility room (12).

2. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge krav 1, hvor hjælpemidlerne (60) omfatter en ventilator (62) med en blæseretning, som er anbragt skråt i forhold til vertikalen, og som suger procesluft ud af nytterummet (12) og afgiver den i den skråt opad orienterede luftstrøm (61).The laundry treatment cabinet of claim 1, wherein the auxiliaries (60) comprise a fan (62) having a blowing direction inclined relative to the vertical, which sucks process air out of the utility room (12) and discharges it into the inclined upward air flow (61).

3. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge krav 2, hvor ventilatoren (62) er anbragt i nytterummet (12).The laundry treatment cabinet of claim 2, wherein the fan (62) is disposed in the utility room (12).

4. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav, hvor hjælpemidlerne (60) har dyser (70) i en sidevæg af nytterummet (12), via hvilken der kan indføres procesluft fra uden for nytterummet (12) i den skråt opad orienterede luftstrøm (61).Laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary means (60) have nozzles (70) in a side wall of the utility room (12), through which process air can be introduced from outside the utility room (12) in the inclined upwardly directed air flow (61). ).

5. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge krav 4 med en skakt (14) til at føre procesluft fra en sokkeldel (13) af vasketøjsbehandlingsskabet, hvilken er anbragt under nytterummet (12), til ventilationsåbningerne (42) i loftet (41) af nytterummet (12), hvor dyserne (70) er forbundet med skakten (14) og leder en del af den procesluft, der stiger opad i skakten (14), ind i nytterummet (12).The laundry treatment cabinet according to claim 4, with a shaft (14) for conveying process air from a socket part (13) of the laundry treatment cabinet, which is arranged below the utility room (12), to the ventilation openings (42) in the ceiling (41) of the utility room (12), wherein the nozzles (70) are connected to the shaft (14) and direct a portion of the process air rising upwardly into the shaft (14) into the utility space (12).

6. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav, hvor hjælpemidlerne (60) er anbragt i en nedre tredjedel af nytterummet (12).A laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliaries (60) are located in a lower third of the utility room (12).

7. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav, hvor hjælpemidlerne (60) er anbragt på en sidevæg (65) af nytterummet (12).A laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliaries (60) are arranged on a side wall (65) of the utility room (12).

8. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge krav 7, hvor der i nytterummet (12) er tilvejebragt en horisontalt anbragt stang (23) til optagelse af tøjbøjler, hvor sidevæggen (65), som hjælpemidlerne (60) er anbragt på, er anbragt parallelt med stangen (23).A laundry treatment cabinet according to claim 7, wherein in the utility room (12) is provided a horizontally arranged rod (23) for receiving cloth hangers, the side wall (65) on which the auxiliaries (60) are arranged parallel to the rod (23). ).

9. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav, hvor mindst 75% af den af hjælpemidlerne (60) genererede luftstrøm strømmer i et vin-kelområde på mellem 30°-60° i forhold til en vertikalretning.A laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 75% of the air flow generated by the auxiliaries (60) flows in an angular range of between 30 ° -60 ° relative to a vertical direction.

10. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav med en dampgenerator (36) til indføring af damp i nytterummet (12).Laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, with a steam generator (36) for introducing steam into the utility room (12).

11. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav med en duft-generator til indføring af et duftstof i nytterummet (12).A laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, with a fragrance generator for introducing a fragrance substance into the utility room (12).

12. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab ifølge et af de foregående krav, med et cirku-lationssystem (12, 46, 14) og en transportindretning (50) til at transportere procesluft fra nytterummet (12) gennem et ledningssystem og via ventilati-onsåbningerne (42) i loftet af nytterummet (12) tilbage til nytterummet (12).Laundry treatment cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, with a circulation system (12, 46, 14) and a transport device (50) for conveying process air from the utility room (12) through a conduit system and via the ventilation openings (42) in the ceiling of the utility room (12) back to the utility room (12).

13. Vasketøjsbehandlingsskab (10) ifølge krav 12, hvor cirkulationssystemet (12, 46, 14) har mindst en nedre aftræksåbning (44) i et gulv af nytterummet (12) mod sokkeldelen (13) og en skakt (14), der forløber adskilt fra nytterummet, mellem sokkeldelen (13) og ventilationsåbningerne (42).The laundry treatment cabinet (10) of claim 12, wherein the circulation system (12, 46, 14) has at least one lower vent opening (44) in a floor of the utility room (12) against the socket portion (13) and a shaft (14) extending apart. from the utility room, between the base part (13) and the ventilation openings (42).