GB2262595A

GB2262595A - Laundry washing and drying machine

Info

Publication number: GB2262595A
Application number: GB9226170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dino Bongini
Original assignee: Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 1991-12-16
Filing date: 1992-12-16
Publication date: 1993-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-12-16
Also published as: GB2262595B; GB9226170D0

Abstract

A laundry washing and drying machine, comprising means to realise the washing, including a washing agent distributor, and means to realise the drying by way of circulating hot air, including a filtering element for said hot air. The filtering element of the air (14), arranged in the drying circuit, is integrated in the washing agent distributor (10). In the frontal section (11A) of a drawer small compartments (13) for containing the washing agent are arranged, while in the rear section (11B) the filtering element (14) is housed. The complete opening of the drawer of the distributor (10) allows for direct access to the filtering element (14), so as to enable its cleaning and/or substitution. <IMAGE>

Description

LAUNDRY WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine, in particular a laundry machine comprising means to realise the washing, including a washing agent distributor normally arranged within the control panel of the machine, and means to realise the drying by way of circulating hot air, including a filtering element for said hot air.

Machines of the type described are commerically available and are used for the washing and drying of domestic laundry. They comprise a painted sheet metal body, that houses a washing chamber, to the interior of which a basket for containing the laundry to be washed and dried is situated.

In said chamber water withdrawn from the mains supply is introduced to which washing agents are added such as detergents and/or additives, introduced by means of a suitable distributor drawer or dispenser.

The basket rotates during the washing and the drying, around one or two hubs, depending upon whether the machine is front loaded or top loaded.

In particular, the washing is obtained in virtue of a dynamic action, i.e. the movement of the basket rotating agitates the garments to be washed in the washing liquid (water, heated by suitable resistances, and detergents) and causes the mechanical action that favours the removal of the dirt.

Upon the termination of the washing phase and eventual successive spinnings, the drying phase is carried out: the damp air present inside the machine is placed in circulation through a blower, heated and dried with the assistance of electric resistances, to be then conveyed in the basket in order to flow through the washed garments to be dried, transferring the water of the garments to the condensation system (condensation drying).

Normally the inhaled damp air is introduced to a condensation chamber, where it is made to pass through a cloud of nebulized water so as to facilitate the condensation of the actual humidity; in other cases the condensation is realised by way of a suitable plate.

The air is then conveyed to the basket by means of a suitable pipe-union, placed in proximity of the porthole or, as in the case of top loading machines, through the back wall of the basket, through an interior duct to a hub or opportune holes disposed around the actual hub.

Machines of the described type generally have in the drying circuit a filter to collect threads that detach from the laundry during the various phases of functioning of the machine, in particular during the spinning or drying. Such threads, if not eliminated completely, can in fact be dragged by the circulating air inside the machine and cause functional problems of the same (for example obstructions of ducts, blockage of the fan and drainage pump).

Such filter thus placed internally within the machine, in the drying circuit, and very often to be found in a position to which access is very difficult for the user or that however implies uncomfortable operations for its cleaning or replacement.

To solve such positioning problems dryers or washing-drying machines have been proposed, that provide the filter to be in a position easily accessible by the user; note for example the British patent 1554725, in which a washing-drying machine is described in which the said air filter is arranged in a suitable drawer, placed in the machine's command panel.

Such type of solution, although satisfactory from the viewpoint of the user, has some problems.

Above all, due to the growing need of saving space within the home, nowadays machines tend to be realised having dimensions being reduced.

This need determines several problems in the positioning of various components within the machine itself. In the specific case of the cited English patent, arrangements have to made for a further element if compared to those normally provided in the panel of the machine (programmer, buttons, spy lights, dispenser, speed regulator, etc.); the fact of providing another opening and relative drawer in the command panel of modern machines may not be easy.

It is for this reason, in other solutions known, that it has been necessary to provide elsewhere the opening for access to the filter, for example in the underside of the frontal section of the machine, a position that is thus uncomfortable for the user.

In any case, positioning the opening for the filter on the command panel, as in the case of the cited English patent, determines problems of an aesthetic nature, due to the fact that a further cumbersome element is present and in view on the panel of the machine.

Besides the aesthetic and functional needs regarding the necessities of the user, the productive needs that also stimulate the producers of household-appliances to search for solutions, to the problem of the productive standardisation, must not be overlooked.

A realisation of the type proposed by the British patent 1554725 is not convenient from a productive viewpoint, as it requires additional workings and furthermore those making washing machines and/or drying machines are obliged in such a way to manage a considerable number of aesthetic variants between laundry washing machines (i.e. only washingmachines) and washing drying machines.

In fact, on the grounds of such a realisation, it is necessary to provide for further visible aesthetic elements on a washing drying machine, variants on the structure of the body and inside the machine on its functional organs, if compared to those normally provided on a washing-machine, due to the fact that it is necessary to arrange on the command panel of the machine a drawer for the filter.

The aim of the present invention is that of solving the above mentioned problems, and to indicate a washing-drying machine supplied with a filter arranged in an easily accessible position by the user, being of both simple realisation and maintenance and that wholly satisfies modern aesthetic and constructive needs.

To achieve such aims the present invention has as its object a laundry washing and drying machine, comprising means to realise the washing, among which a washing agent distributor and means to realise the drying by way of circulating hot air, among which a filtering element for said hot air characterised in that said filtering element of the drying air is integrated in said washing agent distributor.

Further aims and advantages of the present invention will result clear by the detailed description that follows and from the annexed drawings supplied as a non-limiting example, wherein: figure 1 represents a schematic view of the drying circuit of the washing-drying machine object of the present invention; figure 2 represents a schematic side section of the washing agent distributor of the machine in figure 1.

In such figures, reference number 1 indicates a chamber of the washing-drying machine, inside of which a basket for the laundry is arranged (for simplicity not represented); a support body for the basket is indicated with 3 that, besides from acting as a hub, also acts as a driving body of the drying air.

For this purpose the said body 3 has to its interior a fan 4, electric resistances 5 to heat the air and apertures 6, through which the heated air is introduced to the basket due to the action of the fan 4. The reference number 7 indicates a condensation plate for the air, of a type and functioning substantially known, placed between the chamber 1 and the basket; reference number 8 indicates a tube that connects the washing chamber 1 with a drainage pump 9 of the water.

Reference number 10 indicates a washing agent distributor of the washing-drying machine, that comprises a drawer 11 housed in a feeder box 12; such drawer is inserted in the feeder box on sliding guides, in order that it can be outwardly pulled from the machine, in the position of charging the washing agent, and then closed with a contrary movement, in the working position of the machine.

As can be seen from the figures, in such drawer 11 there can be two distinct portions; in the frontal portion 11A small compartments 13 have been arranged for containing detergents, liquids or powder, and of washing additives that are introduced in the washing chamber depending on the cycles selected; in the rear portion a chamber 11B is obtained, upwardly opened, where a removable filter element 14 is arranged, that serves in filtering the drying air, as will be clarified later.

The feeder box 12 that houses the drawer 11 is realised in correspondence with the command panel, or in the upper part of the machine, and connected to a tube 15 that supplies the washing agents to the chamber.

Reference number 16 indicates a delivery tube of the air to be filtered, inhaled due to the action of the fan 4, that connects the zone of the chamber in which the condensation plate 7 is present with the feeder box 12, in correspondence of the frontal part of the chamber 11B obtained in the rear part of the drawer 11.

From the feeder box 12, in correspondence to the rear part of the chamber 11B, a suction tube 17 of the filtered air branches off, that is connected to the body 3 in correspondence of the fan 4.

As can be clearly seen in the figures, in particular in figure 2, the filtering element 14 is arranged in the intake branch of the drying circuit or, if preferred, in the branch in depression (the illustrated circuit is in fact of the closed type, consequently the power of the blower serves to over-come the charge resistances along the circuit).

In particular such element 14 forms a divisional partition of the chamber 11B that constitutes the rear portion of the drawer 11; to a first part of the chamber 11B that receives the air by way of the tube 16; the air is then withdrawn after filtering by the second part of the chamber 11B through the tube 17.

From the same figure 2 it is finally noted how the feeder box is realised in order to comprise a support to directly house a solenoid valve 18 and an air breaker 19 to interrupt the supply of water from the mains to the detergents compartments 13 and to the condensor of the drying system.

As the washing and drying proceedings are known, the functioning of the washing and drying machine object of the present invention will be hereafter schematically described, being limited to the drying phase.

After the washing operation is completed, the fan 4 begins to rotate and causes the aspiration of the damp air present in the basket; in particular a small amount of water is sent through the tube 15 to the plate 7, that has the aim to favouring the condensation process (for the functioning of such type of plates reference is made, for example, to the Italian Patent Application 22875-A/87 in the name of the same applicant).

The dried air is thus inhaled through the tube 16 and reaches the frontal part of the chamber 11B of the drawer 11, that houses the filtering element 14 and that, with the drawer closed (as illustrated in the figures, i.e. in the functional position of the machine), creates a practically watertight chamber.

To allow the passage of air in the chamber 11B, the chamber itself provides for two lateral openings that, with the drawer closed, correspond with the couplings of the feeder box 12 of tubes 16 and 17, that have respectively the function of introducing (before filtering) the air and of withdrawing it (after filtering).

In fact, as always in virtue of the action of the fan 4 the air is inhaled towards the tube 17 and passes beforehand through the filtering element 14; any eventual threads that have been detached from the linen and placed in circulation by the air are thus intercepted by the filtering element 14.

Once passed the filter, the air enters the tube 17, through which it then reaches the fan 4.

The air is thus pushed into the body 3, passes over the electric resistances 5, that heat and dry the air, and from here reaches once again the basket through the apertures 6 placed around to the rear hub.

Inside the basket, the air, that once again assumes humidity, is inhaled, as described, and the cycle is repeated until the programmed level of drying has been reached.

Once utilisation of the washing-drying machine has been terminated, the filter may be cleaned, by simply opening completely the drawer 10, as will result hereinbelow.

From figure 2 further details relative to the distributor 10 can be noted.

In particular the said filtering element 14 is constituted by a partition arranged in an oblique manner, or tilted, between the couplings of tubes 16 and 17, so as to present a wide surface that opposes the airflow that crosses it. Maintaining such a tilted position may be obtained for instance through use of a suitable seat or pins realised on the walls of the chamber 11B.

From figure 2 it can also be noted that the chamber 11B of the drawer 11 has openings on its base, one of which is indicated with 20; such openings have the aim of allowing the discharge, from the feeder box 12, of the small droplets of water that can form in the chamber liB.

On the base of the drawer 11, regards the part of the feeder box, two protrusions are present: the first, indicated with 21, in correspondence with the wall 22 that divides the frontal portion 11A from the rear portion where chamber 11B is obtained; the second, indicated with 23, in correspondence with the rear side of the drawer (that corresponds to the rear side of the chamber 11B).

Such two protrusions 21 and 23 act as stopping organs of the run of the drawer 11, depending on whether it must be only partially extracted, to allow for the charging of detergents, or completely, to allow access to the filtering element 14.

It is to be considered that the drawer 11 is inserted in the feeder box 12 with a certain tolerance and also the sliding guides, not represented for simplicity, allow for the drawer to be raised just enough so as that the protrusions 21 and 23 are able to overcome the frontal edge 24 of the feeder box.

Thus, to load detergents, the drawer is normally pulled open until the first stop, the detergents introduced, and then closed again; if however access to the filtering element 14 is desired, upon reaching the first stop, the drawer is slightly raised, in order that the protrusion 21 overcomes the frontal edge 24 of the feeder box 12 and then pulled again until the second stop; if it is desired to completely remove the drawer, for example for cleaning it or cleaning the feeder box, upon reaching the second stop the protrusion 23 of the frontal edge of the feeder box is overcome with an analogous movement as that previously described.

It is to be finally noted that the filter may be made in order to favour its cleaning. For example, in the illustrated case in figure 2, the filtering element 14 has a substantially L-shaped form (up-turned), so as to present a foot 25 being perpendicular to the laying plane of the filtering element, thus avoiding that intercepted threads fall in the portion liB or in the compartments 13 during the removal of the filter.

The characteristics of the washing and drying machine, object of the present invention result in being clear from the present description, as also result in being clear its advantages.

In particular they are represented in the fact that thanks to the invention a double goal has been reached, that of positioning the filter in an easily accessible position for the user and to integrate and thus hide the filter itself in an element already in the machine: the distributor drawer of the washing agents.

In the described washing-drying machine no further elements, besides those already existing on washing machines, are thus in view; it has in this way obtained the undoubted advantages of managing minor aesthetic variants between washing-drying machines and laundry washing machines and of enabling access to the filter element of the drying circuit through an opening already existing in laundry washing machines, with an important saving of space.

Also from the constructional viewpoint of the machine an important simplification is obtained.

It is clear that numerous variants can be supplied by the man skilled in the art, to the machine described as an example, without for this departing from the novelty principles inherent in the invention.

With opportune perceptions the filtering element could be integrated in a distributor of the washing agents angularly movable, of the type described in the Italian Patent Application 3321-A/89, in the name of the same applicant.

According to another possible variant the distributor of the washing agent could provide an opening commanded by a push-button or a spring release system of the drawer (at least to the first of the two stops), of a type substantially known (note for example the French Patent Application 2559171).

To warrant a perfect watertightness and as a result a good circulation of air along the drying branch, composed by tubes 16 and 17, a removable cover on the portion 11B of the drawer 11 could then be advantageously provided.

According to a further possible variant, the filtering element could be arranged directly in the feeder box 12, in a suitable seat. and in a removable way between tubes 16 and 17, in a position to the rear of a drawer that solely provides the detergent compartments; the drawer would be in this case of analogous size to the known drawers and the access to the filter would be allowed through the complete extraction of the drawer from the body of the machine.

In a further particularly advantageous variant the filtering element could be movably secured, for example by snap release or joint, to the rear wall of a drawer of the known type, and in a such a way that, in the functioning position, the filtering element itself is inserted between tubes 16 and 17; upon the complete extraction of the drawer, the direct access to the filter would therefore also correspond, for eventual operations of cleaning or replacement.

Naturally the washing-drying machine described as an example could be indifferently that of a front loading machine or a top loading machine and its air condensation system could also be of the external type regards the chamber; in particular the tube 17, suitably made, could accomplish such function.

It is finally clear that in a practical realisation the components could be of different forms and sizes from those described above as an example and that the various details can be substituted with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A laundry washing and drying machine of the type comprising means to realise the washing, including a washing agent distributor, and means to realise the drying, including a filtering element of the drying air, wherein the said filtering element of the drying air is arranged in an opening that also houses the said washing agent distributor.

2. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said filtering element is contained in a drawer making up part of the said washing agent distributor.

3. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the said washing agent distributor is placed on the command panel of the machine.

4. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said washing agent distributor comprises a perforated container, in particular in the shape of a feeder box, in which a drawer is inserted, in the frontal part of which compartments for the washing agents are obtained, and in the rear part of which a filter chamber is defined in which the said filtering element is housed in a removable manner.

5. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 4, including first stopping means that allow for the extraction of the said drawer from the body of the machine in a first position, for the charging of the washing agents in the said compartments, and second stopping means that allow for the extraction in a second position, for direct access to the said filtering element, and finally a complete extraction from the body of the machine.

6. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the said feeder box container has a tube for supplying the laundry chamber of the above machine with the washing agents.

7. A laundry machine as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the said means for realising the drying by way of circulating hot air comprises an air withdrawing duct (suction#or depression).

8. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said withdrawing duct is constituted by a first and a second tube that connect respectively the laundry chamber of the machine to the said feeder box container and the latter to a fan being part of the drying circuit of the machine.

9. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the said filter element is inserted in the said air withdrawing duct.

10. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein during the functioning of the machine, with the drawer closed, the said filtering element is inserted in the said air withdrawing duct.

11. A laundry machine as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the said filtering element is arranged between the first tube and the second tube making up part of the said air withdrawing duct.

12. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said filtering element is in an oblique or inclined position, so as to create two separate sub-chambers within the said filter chamber and wherein the said first and said second tubes lead respectively to one of the two separate sub-chambers obtained within the said filter chamber.

13. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said first stopping means of extracting the drawer to said first position, corresponding to the position for charging the said compartments with the washing agents, can be disabled, as the user chooses, in such a way so as to allow a further extraction of the drawer up to an access point of the said filtering element.

14. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 5 or 13, wherein the said second stopping means of extracting the drawer to said second position for the direct access to the filtering element, can be disabled, as the user chooses, so as to allow the removal of the drawer from the body of the machine.

15. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said distributor has air breaker means for interrupting the circuit that feeds the water to the said compartments and to a condenser device being part of the said means for realising the drying.

16. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein on the said rear portion of the drawer is provided a removable cover.

17. A laundry machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the said washing agent distributor is a washing agent distributor being angularly movable.

18. A laundry-machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, including a push button or spring release opening of the said washing agent distributor.

19. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the interior part of the said rear portion of the said drawer are provided apertures for the drainage in the said feeder box container of water residues that can form in the said filter chamber in which the said filtering element is arranged.

20. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said filtering element is constituted by a baffle having means for stopping intercepted threads from falling inside the said drawer during the removal of the said filtering element.

21. A laundry machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the said filtering element is of a substantially L-shaped form.

22. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 5, 13 or 14, wherein the said means for stopping the extraction of the drawer are constituted by protrusions on the base of the said drawer and on the frontal edge of the said feeder box container.

23. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 22, wherein one of the said protrusions is in correspondence with a wall that separates the said frontal part from the said rear part and another of the said protrusions is in correspondence with the rear face of the said drawer.

24. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein the said drawer is inserted within the said feeder box container with a tolerance such that the user has the possibility to make the said protrusions overcome the said frontal edge of the feeder box container.

25. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said. filtering element is arranged in a removable manner in an appropriate seat obtained in the said opening, to a rear position of a drawer.

26. A laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said filtering element is fixed in a removable manner, in particular by a snap release or joints, to the rear wall of a drawer being part of the said washing agent distributor.

27. A laundry washing and drying machine, of the type comprising a filtering element inserted in the drying circuit of the laundry machine, wherein the said element is arranged in a position of easy access for the user by way of an opening already existing on the command panel of the machine, so that no other elements in view are necessary for housing the said filtering element regards those normally provided for on a laundry washing machine.

28. A washing agent distributor for a laundry washing and drying machine, having a container for detergents and/or washing additives, air breaker devices for interrupting the water flow to the said container and/or a support device for housing a solenoid valve, and a filtering element of the drying air.

29. A laundry washing and drying machine, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

30. A washing agent distributor for laundry washing and drying machines, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.