Patent Application
20230054491
The invention relates generally to automatic washing of laundry. In particular, the present invention concerns a laundry washing machine for washing clothes and other textile items, the dirtiness of which may vary over a very broad range.
Today, numerous types of laundry washing machines are known that are highly efficient in terms of mechanically removing dirt particles and similar undesired fragments from clothes. Virtually every one of these machines operate according to a principle where a cylindrical drum rotates and thus causes pieces of laundry to tumble and be tossed around together with detergents. The cylindrical drum may either be arranged with its rotation axis oriented horizontally or vertically. This, of course, affects how gravity interacts with the movements of the pieces of laundry inside the drum. In general, however, the washing functionality is the same in both cases, namely mechanical action in the form of turning, shaking and rubbing fabric surfaces against one other and against the walls of the drum until the dirt particles have been removed, and can subsequently be conveyed out from the drum via openings in the drum wall.
Such mechanical treatment typically accomplishes good washing results, especially if the laundry is relatively dirty. However, these results come at a price, for example in terms of high water consumption, severe wear on the clothing and water pollution due to microfibers being torn away in the washing process. The drum-based laundry washing machines are also fairly noisy and cause vibrations.
Therefore, in recent years, alternative types of washing machines have been presented. For instance, WO 2018/222125 describes a washing machine that has a main part and a flexible washing compartment in which the washing of the laundry takes place. The flexible washing compartment has a sealable opening for receiving the laundry to be washed. The washing machine further has an inlet for supplying washing water into the flexible washing compartment and an outlet for disposal of washing water from the flexible washing compartment. A mechanical pressure device is arranged at the flexible washing compartment to provide mechanical lifting pressure on the outside of a part of the flexible washing compartment, such that the laundry is subjected to mechanical action to assist washing.
WO 2019/004896 shows a washing machine that includes one or more flexible washing compartments that each contains a particular washing zone, in which a flow of washing water typically containing detergents and/or stain removers, is arranged to oscillate through a stacked layer of laundry. Consequently, progressive washing is obtained essentially of the whole content of the stacked laundry.
The latter two solutions above tackle the problems of high water consumption, severe wear on the clothing and microfiber related water pollution. However, at least in some cases when the laundry is very dirty, these solutions may be inferior to the drum-based mechanical laundry washing machines with respect to cleaning efficiency.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to offer an automatic laundry washing solution that attains a good cleaning result regardless of how dirty the laundry is, and at the same time, avoids unnecessary use of water, minimizes the amount of microfibers being emitted into the sewage as well as prevents excessive wear on the clothes.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a laundry washing machine containing a rotatable drum configured to hold laundry during washing thereof. The rotatable drum includes at least one flexible body configured to alter its volume in response to a fluid medium being fed into or extracted out from an interior of the at least one flexible body. As a result, a volume available for washing fluids and the laundry in the rotatable drum varies.
This laundry washing machine is advantageous because it can operate according to a very broad range of washing programs including everything from extremely mild programs, where cleaning fluids are gently driven through stationary pieces of laundry to intense programs involving highly agitating washing actions, where for example the laundry is subjected to quick movements and high temperatures. Thus, a tailored washing program can be employed for each degree of laundry dirtiness.
Furthermore, the proposed combination of the rotatable drum and the at least one flexible body enables entirely new washing actions, such as wherein pieces of laundry are turned and kneaded repeatedly in an alternating process. Thereby, washing liquids can be systematically passed through different combinations of layers of fabric, which accomplishes a very efficient cleaning. Since such a process means that the laundry is pressed in more angles than in conventional laundry machines, this also leads to less wrinkles and creases in the cleaned laundry.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the laundry washing machine contains a rotating shaft that drives the rotatable drum. The rotating shaft has a passage configured to feed the fluid medium into and extract the fluid medium out from the at least one flexible body. Thus, the at least one flexible body can be controlled to alter its shape and volume in an efficient and convenient manner via pump mechanisms outside the rotatable drum also during rotation thereof.
According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the at least one flexible body is non-axially arranged relative to the rotating shaft in the rotatable drum. This design is advantageous inter alia because it enables agitators of different shapes and sizes to be formed in the rotatable drum. Depending on the size and shape of the agitators, the agitators can assist in causing the laundry to be tossed and tumbled in various ways in the rotatable drum.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one flexible body is configured to receive the fluid medium so as to expand its/their volume to create at least one delimited space for washing fluids and the laundry inside the rotatable drum. This is suitable for washing of few or smaller pieces of laundry since it requires less water.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the at least one flexible body is configured to receive the fluid medium so as to expand its/their volume until the laundry is at least temporarily fixated against an inside surface of the rotatable drum. Consequently, pieces of laundry can be held stationary during an entire washing program. As an alternative, or in addition thereto, according to one embodiment of the invention, the rotatable drum is configured to execute washing actions involving rotation of the rotatable drum while the at least one flexible body causes the laundry to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum by pulsating the fluid medium to be fed into and out from the interior of the at least one flexible body. This results in repeated expansion and contraction of the at least one flexible body. Thereby, the laundry can be kneaded and rubbed while washing liquids are passed there though, thus providing efficient washing of delicate clothing that is severely soiled.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, the at least one flexible body contains one central flexible body that is arranged symmetrically around the rotating shaft in the rotatable drum. The central flexible body is configured to expand in an expansion direction away from the fluid-medium passage. The expansion direction is here parallel, or at least essentially parallel, to a symmetry axis of the rotatable drum. This accomplishes a reduced drum volume between the central flexible body and the drum door, which is suitable for washing small amounts of laundry with efficient use of water. Alternatively, or additionally, the laundry may be kneaded/rubbed against a rigid surface, e.g. the drum door, as described above by repeated expansion and contraction of the central flexible body.
Preferably, the rotatable drum contains a set of openings configured to allow the washing fluids to be discharged into a receiving chamber surrounding the rotatable drum. According to one embodiment of the invention, the set of openings include first and second zones; where, in the first zone, a ratio between a total opening area and a total non-opening area is higher than the ratio between the total opening area and the total non-opening area in the second zone. The first zone is located closer to the fluid-medium passage than the second zone. Hence, also if the at least one flexible body has been expanded so that the washing volume is reduced, the washing liquids can exit efficiently from the rotatable drum.
When the central flexible body has been expanded to less than a maximal volume, an exterior side surface of the central flexible body is exposed to the washing fluids. According to one embodiment of the invention, the exterior side surface contains at least one fluid conveying pattern, which is configured to transport the washing fluids from the exterior side surface towards the set of openings the rotatable drum. This further improves the emission of washing liquids from the rotatable drum in emptying phases of a washing program.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the rotatable drum is configured to execute washing actions involving rotation of the rotatable drum intended to cause the laundry therein to tumble. As a result, conventional drum-based laundry washing can be effected.
Further, according to one embodiment of the invention, the laundry washing machine contains at least one pressure generator configured to force the washing liquids to pass through the laundry while the at least one flexible body causes the laundry to be fixated, at least temporarily, against an inside surface of the rotatable drum. Here, the fluid medium is pulsated to be fed into and out from the interior of the at least one flexible body while the rotatable drum is stationary, at least temporarily. This typically accomplishes good a washing result if the laundry is mildly dirty. In other situations, it may be more efficient to control the at least one pressure generator to force the washing liquids to pass through the laundry while the at least one flexible body causes the laundry to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum while the rotatable drum either rotates or is held stationary.
Further advantages, beneficial features and applications of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the dependent claims.
The invention is now to be explained more closely by means of preferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and with reference to the attached drawings.
A rotating shaft 230 drives the rotatable drum 210 inside the receiving chamber 220. Preferably, the rotating shaft 230 includes a passage 235 that is configured to feed the fluid medium F into the central flexible body 215, and extract the fluid medium F out there from. This arrangement is beneficial because it allows the central flexible body 215 to be controlled to alter its shape and volume in an efficient and convenient manner via a pump mechanism (not shown) outside the rotatable drum 210 regardless of whether the drum 210 rotates or is stationary.
The main purpose of the rotatable drum 210 is to execute washing actions involving rotation of the rotatable drum 210 to cause the laundry 240 therein to tumble and be rearranged.
According to embodiments of the invention, the rotatable drum 210 may also execute washing actions involving rotation of the rotatable drum 210 while the at least one flexible body therein causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum 210.
In
According to one embodiment of the invention, the laundry washing machine 100 contains at least one pressure generator, schematically indicated by reference number 260 in
In
Preferably, the laundry washing machine 100 contains a reservoir tank (not shown), which is configured to temporarily store washing liquids W that have been forced through the laundry 240 and been emptied from the rotatable drum 210. Thus, both water and detergents can be economized.
Moreover, alternatively, or additionally, the rotatable drum 210 may execute washing actions that involve rotating the rotatable drum 210 while the central flexible body 215 causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum, e.g. the drum door 225. This kneading is effected by pulsating the fluid medium F so that it is repeatedly fed into and out from the interior of the central flexible body 215. Thereby, the central flexible body 215 expands and contracts in a cyclic manner that causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded and rubbed while the washing liquids W are passed there though, thus providing efficient washing of delicate clothing being severely soiled. Analogous the expansion direction Dexp, the central flexible body 215 contracts towards the fluid-medium passage 235 in parallel with, or at least essentially in parallel with, the symmetry axis A of the rotatable drum 210.
Naturally, the pressure generator 260 may also be configured to force the washing liquids W to pass through the laundry 240 while the central flexible body 215 causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum 210, and while the rotatable drum 210 is either stationary or rotates. Generally, if the laundry 240 is severely soiled by dirt and/or particles, more rotation and kneading is necessary to attain a satisfying washing result; and if the laundry 240 contains delicate fabrics, it is advantageous to reduce such mechanical actions and instead force the washing liquids W through the laundry 240 in multiple passes.
For convenient discharge of the washing fluids W from the rotatable drum 210, it preferably contains a set of openings 213 configured to allow the washing fluids W to be discharged into the receiving chamber 220 that surrounds the rotatable drum 210.
Further preferably, the set of openings 213 contains first and second zones 211 and 212 respectively. In the first zone 211 a ratio between a total opening area and a total non-opening area is higher than the ratio between the total opening area and the total non-opening area in the second zone 212. It is advantageous if all the openings have a relatively small diameter, for example of equal size as shown in
The fluid-medium passage 235 is comprised in the rotating shaft 230, so that the fluid medium F can be fed into and extracted out from flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c in an efficient manner regardless of whether the drum 210 rotates or is stationary. Specifically, a set of conduits 401, 402 and 403 interconnects the fluid-medium passage 235 and the flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c via openings 411, 412 and 413 respectively in a short side of the rotatable drum 210 located opposite to the drum door 225.
Analogous to what has been described above, the flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c are configured to receive the fluid medium F, so as to expand their volumes, and thus reduce the volume available for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 in the rotatable drum 210. The flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c may also create delimited spaces for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 inside the rotatable drum 210 as illustrated in
In
The term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components. However, the term does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof.
The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments in the figures; however it may be varied freely within the scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2050104-5 | Jan 2020 | SE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/052222 | 1/30/2021 | WO |
