WO2018103960A1

WO2018103960A1 - A laundry washing/drying machine with improved drying performance

Info

Publication number: WO2018103960A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/077879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Varol KAYISDAG; Ersin Donmez; Celal Vatansever; Emre AYAROGLU; Yavuz Sahin
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-12-07
Filing date: 2017-10-31
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-07
Also published as: TR201618038A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing/drying machine (1) comprising a body (2); a tub (3) that is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the washing and the drying processes are realized; a drum (5) that is disposed in the tub (3) and wherein the laundry are placed, and that has more than one hole (4) so as to enable the water in the tub (3) to contact the laundry, and a circulation duct (8) having an air inlet (6) that enables the process air to be circulated in the tub (3) and through which the process air is delivered into the tub (3) and an air outlet (7) through which the process air is sucked from the tub (3).

Description

A LAUNDRY WASHING/DRYING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED DRYING PERFORMANCE

The present invention relates to a laundry washing/drying machine that enables a higher amount of process air to be passed over the laundry during the drying process.

In laundry washing/drying machines, generally the process air that enables the laundry to be dried is blown from the bellows into the drum, passed over the laundry and heated, then sucked back into the circulation duct so as to be sent over the laundry again. The drum is produced in a perforated structure that enables the water in the tub to reach to the laundry in the drum during the washing process. However, due to the perforated structure of the drum, a significant amount of air that is sent onto the laundry during the drying process leaves the drum by exiting through the holes without being sufficiently circulated over the laundry or without contacting the laundry at all. In this case, since sufficient amount of process air cannot be passed over the laundry, the dehumidification efficiency decreases and the drying duration increases.

In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1970483, a laundry washing/drying machine is disclosed, comprising a circumferential wall that extends between the tub and the drum and that enables the air escaping in between the tub and the drum to be directed to the drum.

In the state of the art Korean Document No. KR20070015294, a laundry washing/drying machine is disclosed, comprising extensions that are disposed on the tub and that enables air leak between the tub and the drum to be decreased.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry washing/drying machine, the drying efficiency of which is increased in a simple and low-cost manner.

The laundry washing/drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; a tub that is disposed in the body; a drum with a perforated structure, that is disposed in the tub and wherein the laundry is placed, and a circulation duct having an air inlet that enables the process air to be delivered onto the laundry and an air outlet that enables the humid process air passed over the laundry to be collected.

The laundry washing/drying machine of the present invention comprises the tub that is formed by joining all around the sides of a front part and a rear part that are produced separately, and an air barrier that is disposed between the front part and the rear part before the joining process, that extends towards the drum from the tub with a fixing end remaining between the front part and the rear part when the front part and the rear part are joined, and that has a free end that enables the air flow between the tub and the drum to be disrupted. The air barrier is fixed onto the tub by means of the fixing end that is squeezed between the front part and the rear part, and enables the process air leaking through the holes to return to the drum by preventing the leaking air from moving in the gap between the tub and the drum by means of the free end that extends towards the drum. Thus, the need for modifying the tub molds or for carrying out additional fixation processes in order to form the air barrier is eliminated, and the drying efficiency is increased in a simple and low-cost manner.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the free end of the air barrier almost completely surrounds the drum in the radial direction. Thus, the amount of air leaking through the holes and reaching the air outlet by moving between the drum and the tub is significantly decreased.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the free end of the air barrier surrounds the drum from the top and sides. Thus, the air barrier is prevented from blocking the flow of the water collected in the base of the tub.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet is disposed at the rear side of the drum, and the air inlet is preferably disposed at the front side of the drum so as to be on the bellows, and the number and/or width of the holes on the drum decrease towards the rear from the front. Thus, the density of the holes at the rear side of the drum that remains behind the air barrier is decreased, and the amount of air that directly reaches the air outlet by leaking through the holes at the rear side of the drum is reduced.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the free end of the air barrier is produced from an elastic material. Thus, the drum that moves during the washing process is prevented from hitting and damaging the air barrier.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the air barrier comprises an extension arm that extends between the fixing end and the free end so as to be almost perpendicular to the free end. By means of the extension arm, in case the horizontal distance between the air inlet and the circumferential connection line where the front part and the rear part are joined together is excessive, the free end can be moved closer to the air inlet.

By means of the present invention, a simple air barrier that can be quickly and safely mounted is realized, where no structural changes on the tub or the tub molds are needed. Thus, the drying performance of the laundry washing/drying machine is improved in a cost-effective manner.

The laundry washing/drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of the laundry washing/drying machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the partial perspective view of the laundry washing/drying machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the sideways partial view of the laundry washing/drying machine related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the partial view of the tub, the drum and the air barrier related to another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Laundry washing/drying machine
Body
Tub
Hole
Drum
Air inlet
Air outlet
Circulation duct
Front part
Rear part
Fixing end
Free end
Air barrier
Extension arm
Heater
Bellows

The laundry washing/drying machine (1) comprises a body (2); a tub (3) that is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the washing and the drying processes are realized; a drum (5) that is disposed in the tub (3) and wherein the laundry are placed, and that has more than one hole (4) so as to enable the water in the tub (3) to contact the laundry, and a circulation duct (8) having an air inlet (6) that enables the process air to be circulated in the tub (3) and through which the process air is delivered into the tub (3) and an air outlet (7) through which the process air is sucked from the tub (3). The process air is heated in the circulation duct (8) and blown onto the laundry in the drum (5) through the air inlet (6) and then sucked into the circulation duct (8) through the air outlet (7) so as to be dehumidified and heated again after dehumidifying the laundry.

The laundry washing/drying machine (1) of the present invention comprises the tub (3) that is formed by joining together a front part (9) and a rear part (10) that are produced separately, and at least one air barrier (13) having a fixing end (11) that extends between the front part (9) and the rear part (10) and a free end (12) that extends towards the drum (5) from the tub (3) and that enables the air flow between the tub (3) and the drum (5) to be directed towards the drum (5). The tub (3) is formed by a front part (9) and a rear part (10) that are produced as separate pieces and brought into a single piece by joining the sides all around by using an appropriate assembly method. The air barrier (13) is fixed onto the tub (3) by means of the fixing end (11) that is disposed between the front part (9) and the rear part (10) before the joining process and that remains between the front part (9) and the rear part (10) after the joining process is completed. The free end (12) of the air barrier (13) fixed onto the tub (3) extends from the tub (3) towards the drum (5). An air curtain is formed between the tub (3) and the drum (5) by means of the free end (12), and the process air that leaks through the holes and moves between the tub (3) and the drum (5) is forced to hit the free end (12) and return back into the drum (5).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the free end (12) almost completely surrounds the drum (5). The free end (12) surrounds the drum (5) all around in the radial direction. Thus, the flow of the process air in the volume between the tub (3) and the drum (5) is significantly prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the free end (12) is shaped as a ring with at least a part thereof being open so as to align with the base of the tub (3). A heater (15) that enables the water in the tub (3) to be heated is disposed at the base of the tub (3) so as to remain between the drum (5) and the tub (3). The free end (12) is almost C-shaped so as to surround the drum (5) from the top and sides. Thus, a safe distance is left between the free end (12) and the heater (15).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the hole (4) density of the drum (5) decreases from the air inlet (6) towards the air outlet (7). The air inlet (6) is preferably disposed on the bellows (16) that extends between the body (2) and the tub (3), and the process air is blown through the bellows (16) into the drum (5). A part of the process air leaves the drum (5) in particular by leaking through the holes (4) that are disposed at the front side of the drum (5), where the air flow is more irregular. The air barrier (13) enables the air that leaks from the front side of the drum (5), where the hole (4) density is more, to be directed back into the drum (5). The hole (4) density decreases towards the rear side of the drum (5), and thus the amount of the process air that leaks through the holes (4) arranged behind the air barrier (13) and directly reaches the air outlet (7) decreases. Thus, more process air is enabled to be circulated over the laundry.

In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one extension arm (14) that extends almost completely parallel to the tub (3) wall is disposed between the fixing end (11) and the free end (12). The extension arm (14) extends between the fixing end (11) and the free end (12) in the horizontal plane, and enables the free end (12) to be moved away from the fixing end (11) and the horizontal position of the free end (12) to be adjusted.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the extension arm (14) extends on the front part (9) so as to enable the free end (12) to be moved closer to the air inlet (6). This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case the horizontal distance between the air inlet (6) and the line where the front part (9) and the rear part (10) are joined is large. Thus, the amount of air that is directed into the drum (5) is increased by enabling the free end (12) to be moved closer to the front side of the tub (3) where the air flow is more irregular.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the free end (12) is produced from a soft material. The drum (5) oscillates in the horizontal and vertical directions in the tub (3) during the washing process. By means of the free end (12) being produced from a soft material, the drum (5) is enabled to contact the free end (12) in a safe manner during the vertical movement, and the drum (5) and the air barrier (13) are prevented from being damaged. Thus, the distance between the drum (5) and the free end (12) can be kept much shorter, and the air leaks are efficiently prevented.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the front part (9) and the rear part (10) are joined together by means of welding. The front part (9) and the rear part (10) are preferably produced from a hard plastic material, and joined together by means of an appropriate welding method such as vibration welding, ultrasonic welding, etc. Thus, the joining process is realized in a simple and low-cost manner, and the assembly costs are reduced.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the fixing end (11) is produced from the same material as the tub (3). In this embodiment, the tub (3) and the fixing end (11) are preferably produced from a hard plastic material. Thus, the connection between the air barrier (13) and the tub (3) is strengthened by enabling the fixing end (11) to at least partially integrate with the tub (3) during the joining process by welding.

By means of the present invention, the air barrier (13) is firmly and easily fixed onto the tub (3) without the need of an additional assembly process and assembly element. Thus, the air leaks between the tub (3) and the drum (5) are effectively and easily decreased, and the drying performance of the laundry washing/drying machine (1) is improved.

Claims

A laundry washing/drying machine (1) comprising a body (2); a tub (3) that is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the washing and the drying processes are realized; a drum (5) that is disposed in the tub (3) and wherein the laundry are placed, and that has more than one hole (4) so as to enable the water in the tub (3) to contact the laundry, and a circulation duct (8) having an air inlet (6) that enables the process air to be circulated in the tub (3) and through which the process air is delivered into the tub (3) and an air outlet (7) through which the process air is sucked from the tub (3); characterized by the tub (3) that is formed by joining together a front part (9) and a rear part (10) that are produced separately, and at least one air barrier (13) having a fixing end (11) that extends between the front part (9) and the rear part (10) and a free end (12) that extends towards the drum (5) from the tub (3) and that enables the air flow between the tub (3) and the drum (5) to be directed towards the drum (5).
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the free end (12) that almost completely surrounds the drum (5).
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the free end (12) that is shaped as a ring with at least a part thereof being open so as to align with the base of the tub (3).
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the drum (5), the hole (4) density of which decreases from the air inlet (6) towards the air outlet (7).
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one extension arm (14) that is disposed between the fixing end (11) and the free end (12) and that extends almost completely parallel to the tub (3) wall.
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the extension arm (14) that extends on the front part (9) so as to enable the free end (12) to be moved closer to the air inlet (6).
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the free end (12) that is produced from a soft material.
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the front part (9) and the rear part (10) that are joined together by means of welding.
A laundry washing/drying machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the fixing end (11) that is produced from the same material as the tub (3).