WO2008012341A1

WO2008012341A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2008012341A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hakan Tatar; Mehmet Kaya; Murat Elgun; Ozcan Hatipoglu; Meryem Guneri
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-07-28
Filing date: 2007-07-26
Publication date: 2008-01-31
Also published as: TR200900549T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) wherein the excessive foam formed in the washing process is effectively removed by means of a guiding plate (5) that is disposed in front of the water delivered between the tub (3) and the drum (2) that provides the water impinging thereon to form a water film by licking the wall of the tub (3).

Description

Description A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein the increase of foaming is prevented during the washing processes.

[0002] In washing machines, excessive foaming can result when more than the required amount of detergent is used or when the detergent used has an extra foaming feature. This foam formation in the washing tub adversely affects the rinsing performance of the washing machine and results in residual detergent on the laundry at the end of the washing cycles. Detergent residue on laundry is detrimental to health and also gives the impression that the washing machine has not performed a complete washing. Furthermore, excessive foaming reaches the detergent dispenser through the tub water inlet and can overflow out of the washing machine from there. On the other hand, the accumulation of the foam within the space between the tub and the drum and resisting against the motion of the drum during spin-drying can sometimes prevent the machine from reaching the desired spin acceleration. Various methods are used such as spraying water on the foam, slowing down drum rotational speed or discharging the foam in order to avoid the above mentioned problems.

[0003] In the German patent document no. DE4334969, hot air is blown into the washing tub by means of a device that produces hot air in order to prevent excessive foaming.

[0004] In the German patent document no. DE4104151, when the foam sensing device in the washing machine detects foam, the rotation speed of the drum is reduced and the heater is switched on.

[0005] In the German patent document no. DE3840265, the spinning speed of a laundry- drum is compared with predetermined desired spinning speeds and is kept under control.

[0006] In the European patent document no. EP0724036, the rotational speed of the drum is reduced in order to prevent excessive foaming, the water intake amount in the rinsing phase is increased and the user is warned in order to prevent excessive foaming.

[0007] In the United States of America patent document no. US2001052249, water is sprayed on the foam in a washing machine.

[0008] In the Japanese patent application no. JP2005013577, water is delivered over the tub with a shower-like mechanism.

[0009] However, in state of the art implementations of foam dousing with water, the water received into the tub directly goes down to the lower region of the tub and sweeping and dousing the foam accumulated on the tub wall cannot be accomplished (Figure 1)

[0010] The object of the present invention is to design a washing machine wherein the excessive foam formed in the washing process is effectively removed.

[0011] The washing machine designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0012] The washing machine of the present invention comprises a guiding plate situated in front of the water delivered from above between the tub and the drum, providing the water impinging thereupon to form a water film that licks the wall of the tub by means of coanda effect and/or the pressure of the delivered water and thus douses the foam accumulated in the tub by sweeping along the wall of the tub.

[0013] The guiding plate used in the washing machine of the present invention is shaped like a cylinder part that is preferably accommodated with the tub.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plate is assembled inclined on the tub to effectively douse the foam particularly in a region. In other words, the distance between the tub and the guiding plate changes from the front to the back and/ or from the right to the left.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, some amount of the water received into the machine during rinsing is delivered onto the plate for dousing the excessive foaming that forms in the tub.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the water collected under the foam in the lower portion of the tub during washing is conveyed over the tub by a circulation pump in order to douse the excessive foaming formed in the tub.

[0017] At least one orifice is provided at the upper suriace of the tub for the water that is delivered over the tub to be received into the tub to reach the guiding plate.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plate is attached to the tub with pins long enough to keep a distance therebetween from the tub such that the water coming from the orifice impinging thereon can form a water film.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plate comprises blockers that close the opening between the tub and the plate from the front and/or the back such that the water flow to the front and back side of the tub is blocked, providing the water coming from the orifice to impinge thereupon to be directed particularly towards the wall of the tub. In a version of this embodiment, the blockers also provide the guiding plate to be attached to the tub.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, a foam sensor for detecting excessive foam formation in the tub and a control unit that controls the water delivered to the orifice according to the data detected by the sensor are utilized.

[0021] The washing machine designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0022] Figure 1 - is the front schematic view of a washing machine of the prior art.

[0023] Figure 2 - is the front schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 - is the sideways schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of the guiding plate used in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of the guiding plate used in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Drum

3. Tub

4. Orifice

5. Guiding plate

6. Inlet conduit

7. Circulation pump

8. Pin

9. Blocker

[0028] The washing machine (1) comprises a horizontal axis drum (2) wherein the laundry is emplaced, a tub (3) inside which the drum (2) rotates, at least one orifice (4) for receiving water (S) into the tub (3) and a guiding plate (5) situated between the tub (3) and the drum (2), disposed on the tub (3) such that it will be lacing the orifice (4), providing the water delivered from the orifice (4) to impinge thereupon to form a water film that licks the wall of the tub (3) thus dousing the foam accumulated between the tub (3) and the drum (2) by sweeping along the wall of the tub (3) (Figure 2 and Figure

3)

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plate (5) comprises pins (8) for disposing thereof to the tub (3) The pins (8) are long enough to keep a distance between the tub (3) and the guiding plate (5) such that the water coming from the orifice (4) after impinging thereon forms a water film (Figure 4)

[0030]

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plate (5) comprises blockers (9), preferably in a plate shape, that form a barrier to hinder the water impinging thereupon from flowing in a certain direction. For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the blockers (9) close the opening between the tub (3) and the guiding plate (5) from the front and the back such that the water flow to the front and back side of the tub (3) is prevented in order to direct the water coming from the orifice (4) particularly to the wall of the tub (3) In a version of this embodiment, the attachment of the guiding plate (5) to the tub (3) is provided by the blockers (9) (Figure 5)

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding plate (5) is disposed on the tub (3) such that the distance therebetween changes from the front to the back and/or from the right to the left. Consequently, the foam concentration present at particularly one side of the tub (3) can be effectively doused.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises an inlet conduit (6) that delivers water to the orifice (4) situated on the tub (3) for entrance of water into the tub (3) The orifice (4) is preferably situated at the upper portion of the tub (3)

[0034] During washing, the water received from the main supply can either be delivered directly or through the detergent dispenser to the inlet conduit (6) or it is also possible to reroute the water collected under the foam formation in the lower region of the tub (3) to the inlet conduit (6) for redelivering over the tub (3) The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a circulation pump (7) for rerouting the water collected under the foam in the lower region of the tub (3) to the inlet conduit (6) from the tub (3)

[0035] In this embodiment, the water collected in the lower portion of the tub (3) is delivered to the inlet conduit (6) by means of the water circulation pump (7) and from there is delivered over the tub (3) The water (S) entering into the tub (3) through the orifice (4) situated on the tub (3) impinges on the guiding plate (5) and proceeds along the tub (3) wall. Meanwhile, the foam (K) collected on the tub (3) walls is carried away with it to the lower portion of the tub (3) and doused.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a foam sensor that detects the formation of excessive foaming (K) and a control unit that controls the delivery of water to the orifice (4) depending on the data determined by the sensor.

[0037] By means of the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the overflowing of the foam that may occur during spin-drying is prevented by effectively dousing the foaming that forms in the tub (3) and the rinsing performance is enhanced. Furthermore, residual detergent streaks remaining on the laundry at the end of the washing is prevented.

Claims

[0001] A washing machine (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry is emplaced, a tub (3) inside which the drum (2) rotates, and at least one orifice (4) for receiving water (S) into the tub (3) and characterized by a guiding plate (5) situated between the tub (3) and the drum (2), disposed on the tub (3) such that it will be facing the orifice (4) providing the water delivered from the orifice (4) to impinge thereupon to form a water film that licks the wall of the tub (3) thus dousing the foam accumulated between the tub (3) and the drum (2) by sweeping along the wall of the tub (3).

[0002] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a guiding plate (5) disposed on the tub (3) such that the distance therebetween changes from the front to the back and/or from the right to the left.

[0003] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a guiding plate (5) comprising pins (8) for disposing thereof to the tub (3) and that are long enough to keep a distance therebetween the tub (3) such that the water coming from the orifice (4) can form a water film after impinging thereon.

[0004] A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a guiding plate (5) comprising blockers (9) that form a barrier to hinder the water coming from the orifice (4) from flowing in a certain direction after impinging thereupon.

[0005] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a guiding plate (5) comprising blockers (9) that close the opening between the tub (3) and the guiding plate (5) from the front and the back such that the water flow to the front and back side of the tub (3) is prevented in order to direct the water coming from the orifice (4) particularly towards the wall of the tub (3).

[0006] A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a foam sensor that detects the formation of excessive foam (K) and a control unit that controls the delivery of water to the orifice (4) depending on the data determined by the sensor.

[0007] A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by an inlet conduit (6) that delivers water to the orifice (4) situated on the tub (3) allowing entrance of water into the tub (3).

[0008] A washing machine (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by an inlet conduit (6) to which the water received from the main supply during washing can either be delivered directly or through the detergent dispenser. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a circulation pump (7) for rerouting the water collected in the lower region of the tub (3) to the inlet conduit (6) to be redelivered over the tub (3).