U.S. patent application number 10/322951 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-19 for bath-alternating machine and process for operating the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LAVATEC AG. Invention is credited to ten Have, Bernard.
Application Number | 20030110576 10/322951 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7710071 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030110576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ten Have, Bernard |
June 19, 2003 |
Bath-alternating machine and process for operating the same
Abstract
In the case of a bath-alternating machine which is intended for
washing colored and white laundry and, at least in the region of
its washing zone, is designed as a double-drum batch-type washing
machine, the casing of its inner drum (26), at least in one of the
chambers of the washing zone, is of water-permeable design only in
a subregion (160) of the circumference. Devices for optionally
discharging the washing water are provided at least in that chamber
of the washing zone in which the inner drum is designed with said
casing which is water-permeable only in a subregion (160).
Inventors: |
ten Have, Bernard; (SC
Lochem, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
Post Office Box 5257
New York
NY
10150-5257
US
|
Assignee: |
LAVATEC AG
|
Family ID: |
7710071 |
Appl. No.: |
10/322951 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/158 ; 68/143;
68/27; 8/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 31/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
8/158 ; 68/27;
68/143; 8/159 |
International
Class: |
D06F 031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2001 |
DE |
101 62 800.5 |
Claims
1. A bath-alternating machine (12) which is intended for washing
colored and white laundry (20) and, at least in the region of its
washing zone (16), is designed as a double-drum batch-type washing
machine, having a plurality of chambers (4, 5, 6) in the region of
the washing zone (16), through which the laundry (20) passes in
succession, having devices (152, 80, 134, 108) for optionally
feeding detergents, water and heat into one or more chambers (4, 5,
6) of the washing zone (16), having devices (34, 36) for optionally
discharging washing water from chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing
zone, wherein the casing of the inner drum (26), at least in one of
the chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone (16), is of
water-permeable design only in a subregion (160) of the
circumference, the devices for optionally discharging the washing
water are provided at least in that chamber (4, 5, 6) of the
washing zone in which the inner drum (26) is designed with said
casing which is water-permeable only in a subregion (160).
2. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
devices for optionally discharging the water are provided in each
chamber (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone (16).
3. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
the water-permeable subregion (160) of the casing of the inner drum
(26) is provided in the region of carry-along elements (164) which
are provided for raising the batches of laundry in the
chambers.
4. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein the water-permeable subregion (160) of the casing
of the inner drum (26) covers at least approximately a quarter of
the drum circumference.
5. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein the devices for optionally feeding water are
provided at least in that chamber (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone
(16) in which the water-permeable subregion (160) is provided in
the casing of the inner drum (26).
6. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
devices for optionally feeding water are provided in each of the
chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone (16).
7. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein the devices for optionally feeding heat are
provided at least in some chambers of the washing zone.
8. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein chambers (1, 2, 3) of a prewashing zone (14) are
arranged upstream of the chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing
zone.
9. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein chambers (7, 8, 9, 10) of a rinsing zone (18) are
arranged downstream of the chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone
(16).
10. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein an overflow (66) is provided in the at least final
chamber (6) of the washing zone (16) as an additional device for
discharging washing water from said chamber (6).
11. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein the devices for optionally discharging washing
water from individual chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone (16)
are line-connected (34, 38, 80) to devices for optionally feeding
water into individual chambers (3, 4, 5, 6) of the washing zone
(16) and/or of the prewashing zone (14).
12. The bath-alternating machine as claimed in one of the preceding
claims, wherein the devices for optionally discharging washing
water from individual chambers (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone (16)
are line-connected (34, 38, 136) to devices for optionally feeding
water into the inlet region.
13. A process for operating a bath-alternating machine (12) which,
at least in the region of its washing zone (16), is designed as a
double-drum batch-type washing machine (26, 28), wherein as the
batch of laundry located in a chamber (4, 5, 6) of the washing zone
(16) is transported further, the casing of the inner drum (26) of
said chamber is closed at least in its bottom subregion (160)
accommodating the batch of laundry.
14. The process as claimed in claim 13, wherein batches of laundry
are transported further by virtue of the inner drum (26) being
rotated (176) through 360.degree. (degrees), during further
transportation, the casing of the inner drum (26), said casing
being water-permeable only in a subregion (160) of the
circumference, is rotated out of the bottom drum region
accommodating the batch of laundry.
15. The process as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein as the batch
of laundry is transported further, the washing water of said
chamber is let out of the annular space (interspace 174) enclosing
the inner drum (26) in the region of said chamber.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a bath-alternating machine which is
intended for washing colored and white laundry. Bath-alternating
machines are used if colored and white laundry is to be washed in a
frequently alternating manner. The invention also relates to a
process for operating such a bath-alternating machine.
PRIOR ART
[0002] DE 29 49 228 A1 discloses a continuous washing machine for
washing colored and white laundry alternately and simultaneously,
and a process for operating such a continuous washing machine. Said
continuous washing machine has chambers which are partitioned off
from one another and through which the batches of laundry pass in
succession. On account of high-outlay and complicated line
connections between the individual chambers, the washing water
located in a chamber may be channeled into any other desired
washing chamber. At the same time, it is possible to let out all
the washing water from each chamber. The successive washing of, for
example, white and colored laundry is achieved in that the washing
chamber located in each case upstream of the washing chamber
containing the white laundry is completely emptied. Otherwise, the
batch of white laundry would become colored. In order to make it
possible for the batch of white laundry to pass through the washing
machine, complicated device-related and process-related means for
controlling the movement of the washing water from one chamber into
other chambers are necessary.
[0003] A single-drum batch-type washing machine is also known. The
single-drum washing-machine design means that the batch of laundry,
be this a batch of white laundry or of colored laundry, is
accompanied by "its" washing liquid as it passes through the
washing machine. All of washing water from each chamber is
therefore transferred into the next chamber in each case. The
operation of letting washing water out of one of these chambers,
feeding fresh water into the individual chambers, reheating the
washing water in the individual chambers or adding chemicals is not
possible in said single-drum washing machine since, on account of
their necessary sealed single-drum casing, the individual chambers
are not accessible from the outside. The washing result in such
single-drum batch-type washing machines is thus less satisfactory
from a technical point of view than is the case with a double-drum
batch-type washing machine, although the latter consumes a
considerable amount of water.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Based on this known prior art, the object of the invention
is to specify a bath-alternating machine which is intended for
washing colored and white laundry and by means of which frequent
color changeover is possible along with the lowest possible water
consumption, a high performance and a satisfactory washing
result.
[0005] This invention is achieved, for the bath-alternating
machine, by the features of claim 1, and, for the process for
operating such a bath-alternating machine, by the features of claim
13. Expedient developments of the invention form the subject matter
of further claims which follow the abovementioned claims in each
case.
[0006] The bath-alternating machine according to the invention is
distinguished, in particular, in that the casing of its inner drum,
at least in one of the chambers of its washing zone, is of
water-permeable design only in a subregion of the circumference.
Such a merely partially water-permeable casing helps to achieve the
situation where, in the case of batches of colored laundry and
white laundry following one after the other, there is no need for
all the water of the relevant washing chambers in each case to be
channeled out of the chamber; rather, only the washing water
provided in the interspace between the inner drum and the outer
drum needs to be channeled out of the chamber. Discharging a
smaller quantity of water in relation to the prior art means that
it is also the case that only a correspondingly smaller quantity of
fresh water or other washing water has to be channeled into the
relevant chambers. It is thus the case that a smaller quantity of
water is moved through the lines provided and used up.
[0007] According to an exemplary embodiment which is also
illustrated in the drawing, the water-permeable subregion of the
casing of the inner drum is provided in the region of the
carry-along elements, by means of which, during the reversing drum
movement, the laundry is raised out of the washing liquid and
allowed to fall into the washing liquid again, as is usually the
case with such washing machines. It has found to be sufficient for
said water-permeable subregion of the casing to be arranged only
approximately in a sector of 90.degree. (degrees) of the
cross-sectionally circular inner-drum casing.
[0008] The bath-alternating machine according to the invention has
the advantage that the water consumption of the washing machine is
reduced to a considerable extent in relation to the double-drum
batch-type washing machines known in the prior art. It is possible
here, in contrast to the single-drum batch-type washing machines
which are likewise known in the prior art, to reheat the batches of
laundry in the individual washing chambers as desired. It is also
possible for chemicals or other washing additives to be added
without any modification. It is thus possible for colored and white
laundry to be washed in an alternating manner as desired, in a
double-drum batch-type washing machine, with considerably reduced
water consumption.
[0009] These abovementioned advantages are made possible in that,
in accordance with the process according to the invention, as the
batch of laundry located in a chamber of the washing zone is
transported further, the casing of the inner drum of said chamber
is closed at least in its bottom casing region accommodating the
batch of laundry. When washing water is let out of a washing
chamber, it is thus only the washing water located in the annular
space between the inner drum and the outer drum which is let out.
The washing water located in the interior of the inner drum is
transported further, with the laundry, into the next chamber.
[0010] It is possible for this closure of the inner-drum casing to
be realized in a straightforward manner as batches of laundry are
transported further, this being achieved by virtue of the inner
drum being rotated through 360.degree. (degrees), in that, as is
the case with the abovementioned bath-alternating machine according
to the invention, the casing region of the inner drum, said region
being water-permeable only in a subregion, is rotated out of the
bottom drum region accommodating the batch of laundry. The
inner-drum casing region located in the bottom drum region
accommodating the batch of laundry is also closed in an effective
manner as a result. As the batch of laundry is transported further,
it is thus only the washing water located in the annular space
between the inner drum and the outer drum which is let out.
[0011] Further advantages and features of the bath-alternating
machine according to the invention and of the process according to
the invention for operating such a double-drum batch-type washing
machine can be gathered from the rest of the features specified in
the claims and from the following exemplary embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] The invention is explained and described in more detail
hereinbelow with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated
in the drawing, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a bath-alternating
machine according to the invention, the machine being designed as a
double-drum batch-type washing machine, and
[0014] FIGS. 2.1 to 2.4 show successive states in a washing chamber
as the batch of laundry is transported further into an adjacent
washing chamber, with the washing water being let out of said
chamber.
METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION
[0015] A bath-alternating machine 12 designed as a double-drum
batch-type washing machine has a prewashing zone 14, formed from
the chambers 1, 2 and 3, a washing zone 16, comprising three
washing chambers 4, 5 and 6, and a rinsing zone 18, comprising four
chambers 7, 8, 9 and 10. Batches of laundry 20 are fed to the
bath-alternating machine 12 via an introduction hopper 22. After
having passed through the individual chambers 1 to 10, the then
clean batch of laundry is ejected from the final chamber 10 (arrow
24). The batches of laundry 20 may comprise colored or white
laundry. Such differently colored batches of laundry can be washed
one after the other in the bath-alternating machine 12.
[0016] The bath-alternating machine 12 has an inner drum 26, which
extends over all the chambers 1 to 10, and an outer drum 28, which
begins in the final chamber 3 of the prewashing zone 14 and ends in
the region of the final chamber 10 of the rinsing zone 18. This
means that the bath-alternating machine 12 is designed as a
double-drum batch-type washing machine at least in the region of
the washing zone 16.
[0017] In the case of the inner drum 26 of the bath-alternating
machine 12 revolving through 360.degree. (degrees), a batch of
laundry moves, with the liquor (water) bound in it, into the next
chamber in each case. This further transportation of the batch of
laundry is indicated by arrows 30 for the prewashing zone 14 and
the washing zone 16. In the region of the first three chambers 7, 8
and 9 of the rinsing zone 18, the rinsing operation takes place in
so-called countercurrent 32. In the final chamber 10 of the rinsing
zone 18, a so-called stationary bath is provided. In the case of a
further revolution of the inner drum 26 through 360.degree.
(degrees), the batch of laundry present in the final chamber 10 is
ejected out of the latter (arrow 24), as has already been mentioned
above.
[0018] The free liquor located in the final chamber 3 of the
prewashing zone 14 and all three chambers 4, 5 and 6 of the washing
zone, said liquor not being bound in the respective batch of
laundry, may be let out of the respective chamber 3, 4, 5, 6 via a
discharge line 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d in each case. For this
purpose, in each case one shut-off valve 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d is
provided in each of these four discharge lines 34a-34d.
[0019] The discharge lines 34a-34d open out into a collecting line
38. This collecting line 38 opens out, via a line branch 38a in
which a shut-off valve 48 is installed, into a collecting basin C.
Provided in said collecting basin C is an overflow 42, via which
water can flow out of the collecting basin C, via a branch line 44,
into the collecting line 38. The collecting line 38 opens out, via
a further line branch 38b, into the rear chamber 36 of a further
collecting basin B. A shut-off valve 40b is provided in said line
branch 38b. In the chamber 46, there is a line connection to the
collecting line 38 via an overflow 48 and a branch line 50
connected thereto. Finally, via a third line branch 38c, which is
connected to the collecting line 38, the water can be removed from
the collecting line and, if appropriate, from the collecting basin
C and from the chamber 46 of the upstream collecting basin B into
an outflow (arrow 52) from the water circuit.
[0020] The collecting basin B has a chamber 54 arranged upstream of
the chamber 46. An overflow wall 56 is provided between the chamber
54 and the chamber 46. A line 58 coming from a collecting basin A
leads into the chamber 54 of the collecting basin B. A line 60 from
a filter arrangement 62, having a fluff filter, leads into the
collecting basin A. Leading to said filter arrangement 62 is a
discharge line 64 which comes from the first rinsing chamber 7 and
is connected to an overflow 66 in said first rinsing chamber 7. A
shut-off valve 68 is also installed in the discharge line 64.
[0021] Water deposited in the collecting basin A may be discharged
from the latter via a line 70a and, by means of an overflow, via a
line 70b into a collecting line 70c and fed to the outflow (arrow
52). A shut-off valve 72 is also provided in the line 70a.
[0022] The water of the flushing zone 18 which has been channeled
into the collecting basin B flows out of the latter, via the
overflow wall 56, into the chamber 46. From there, the water can be
fed in the respectively desired quantity via a supply line 80, by
means of a pump 82, to the final chamber 3 of the prewashing zone
and chambers 4, 5 and 6 of the washing zone 16. For this purpose,
the supply line 80 branches into supply-line branches 80a, 80b, 80c
and 80d. Also leading into the final chamber of the washing zone 46
is a further supply-line branch 80e which, in contrast to the other
supply-line branches leading into the chambers 3, 4, 5 as well as
6, may be activated as desired by an electrically controllable
shut-off valve 78. It is possible in this way, in dependence on the
overflow 66 provided in said chamber 6, to level out the level of
the water as desired and thus to keep the latter at the desired
level.
[0023] At the final rinsing chamber 10, a discharge line 86 is
connected to the outer drum and a discharge line 88 is connected to
the inner drum. These two lines 86, 88 lead into a collecting basin
D, in which a press 90 is located. The respective batch of laundry
transported out of the final chamber 10 falls onto said press 90.
The water bound in the batch of laundry can be squeezed out with
the aid of the press 90. This water is discharged from the basin D,
through a line 92, by means of a pump 94. The line 92 opens out in
the collecting basin C by way of a branching line 96 and in the
line branch 38c by way of a further branching line 98. From the
line branch 38c, it is possible for the water either to be removed
via the outflow 52 or to be fed, via the line branch 38b, to the
chamber 46 of the collecting basin B or, by the line branch 38a, to
the collecting basin C. The respective flow direction depends on
the shut-off valves or branching valves, such as the branching
valve 99, which are provided in the lines in each case.
[0024] Via a superheated-steam line 100, in which a shut-off valve
102 is installed, it is possible for superheated steam and thus
heat to be fed on the one hand, via a branching line 104, into the
collecting basin C or, via a branching line 106 and supply lines
108a, 108b, 108c and 108d connected thereto, optionally to the
chambers 3, 4, 6, 9, in accordance with the positions of the
shut-off valves 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d provided in said supply
lines. All the supply lines for superheated steam and for water
open out into the outer drum 28.
[0025] Finally, it is also possible for cold water to be channeled
both into chambers 3, 4, 5 and 6 and into the final two chambers 9
and 10 of the rinsing zone 18 and also into the introduction hopper
22 and into the chamber 54 of the collecting basin B. Moreover,
said cold water (fresh water) can be used for cooling the press 90.
The channeling arrangement for this cold water (fresh water) thus
contains a supply line 120, from which a flow line 122 leads to the
press 90 and a return line 124 leads back again from the press 90.
The return line 124 opens out into a channeling-in line 126, which
opens out from the supply line 120 into the chamber 9 of the
rinsing zone 18. An electrically activatable shut-off valve 128 is
installed in said channeling-in line 126. The final chamber 10 may
be supplied with cold water out of the supply line 120 via a
further inlet line 130. Finally, a further line 132, depicted by
dashes, opens out into the final chamber 10, it being possible for
rinsing additives, for example softeners or starch, to be added to
the final chamber 10 via said further line 132.
[0026] Branching off from the supply line 120 are further inlet
lines 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, which lead into the chambers 3, 4, 5
and 6. Through these inlet lines 134, it is thus likewise possible
for cold water to be fed to the final chamber 3 of the prewashing
zone 14 and all the chambers 4, 5 or 6 of the washing zone 16.
[0027] A further inlet line 134e leads from the supply line 120
into the region of the introduction hopper 22. Opening out into
said inlet line 134e is a line 136, which is connected to the
collecting basin C. It is thus possible for water to be channeled
into the introduction hopper 22 from the collecting basin C through
the line 136, by means of a pump 138 and with the shut-off valve
140 open, and also for cold water to be channeled into the
introduction hopper 22 via the inlet line 134e.
[0028] Furthermore, the supply line 120 also has two further inlet
lines 134f and 134g, which lead respectively into the collecting
basin C and into the chamber 54 of the collecting basin B. A
respective shut-off valve 142 or 144 is also provided in these two
lines. It is thus possible for the collecting basin C to be
supplied both with cold water and with superheated steam (branching
line 104). The water in the collecting basin C may thus be fed to
the introduction hopper 22 as desired in a hot or cold state.
[0029] Finally, a supply line 150 into the chamber 8 of the rinsing
zone 18 is also provided in the present case, it being possible,
for example, for additives such as chlorine to be fed through said
supply line 150. Washing additives such as various detergents may
be fed to the washing chamber 4 via a further supply line 152.
[0030] The casing of the inner drum 26 is of water-permeable design
in a subregion 160 in the region of the washing zone 16, and thus
in the region of the chambers 4, 5, 6. In the present case, this
subregion extends over approximately a sector of 90.degree.
(degrees) of the drum circumference. In the remaining subregion 162
of the casing, the latter is water-impermeable (FIGS. 2.1 to 2.4).
This is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 by the bottom boundary
line 156 of the inner drum 26, said boundary line being illustrated
by dashed lines, in contrast to the top boundary line 158 of said
inner drum 26, the top boundary line being depicted by a solid
line. In the region of the prewashing zone and in the region of the
rinsing zone, the entire casing of the inner drum 26 is
water-permeable throughout the circumference, which is indicated in
FIG. 1 by the top boundary line 159 of the inner drum 26, said
boundary line being illustrated by dashed lines.
[0031] In the present example, the subregion 160 with the
water-permeable casing is provided in the region of carry-along
elements 164. These carry-along elements 164, during the reversing
rotary movement (double arrow 166), cause the items of laundry to
be raised out of the bath 170 alternately to right and left and
then to fall back again into said bath 170, as is usually the case
with washing operations.
[0032] In the case of the inner drum 26 revolving through
360.degree. (degrees), which is illustrated by FIGS. 2.2 to 2.4,
the subregion 160 likewise moves through 360.degree. (degrees)
about the central axis of rotation 172. Even in the case of a
rotation through, for example, somewhat more than 90.degree.
(degrees), said subregion 160, in the present example, has moved
out of the region of the bath 170 (FIG. 2.2). This results in the
bath quantity 170a provided in the interior of the inner drum 26
being separated off from the bath quantity 170b provided in the
interspace 174. Once the shut-off valve 36 provided in the
discharge line 34 has been opened, it is thus only the bath
quantity 170b provided in the interspace 174 which flows out of the
interspace 174 between the inner drum 26 and the outer drum 28. The
bath quantity 170a provided in the interior of the inner drum 26
remains in the relevant washing chamber or is transported as a
bound liquor, together with the batch of laundry, into the next
chamber. The operation of letting the bath quantity 170b out of the
interspace 174 can be carried out simultaneously, in a comparable
manner, for each of the washing chambers 4, 5, 6 of the washing
zone 16.
[0033] It can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 2.3
how the water level in the interspace 174 decreases. In the
illustration according to FIG. 2.4, all of the bath quantity 170b
has flowed out of the interspace 174, through the discharge line
34. By virtue of the subregion 160 being rotated further in the
direction of rotation (arrow 176), first of all a liquid connection
is re-established between the interior of the inner drum 26 and the
interspace 174. Following a full revolution of the inner drum 26,
the latter, following the state illustrated in FIG. 2.4, resumes
its state illustrated in FIG. 2.1, in which it can then be rotated
back and forth in reversing operation 166 again.
* * * * *