Patent Application
20240218579
The disclosure relates to a method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, to an apparatus and to a washing machine.
After a washing programme has been carried out, it is useful to quickly remove cleaned textiles from the washing machine. However, sometimes, this is not possible for a user of the washing machine.
The object of the disclosure is to an improved method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, an improved apparatus and an improved washing machine.
According to the disclosure, this object is achieved by a method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, an apparatus and a washing machine with the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the disclosure can be found in the following dependent claims.
In addition to saving resources, the advantages that can be achieved with the disclosure consist in the additional hygienic treatment of textiles after a wash cycle.
A method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine is presented, wherein the method comprises a step of receiving an end signal, wherein the end signal represents an end of a washing programme of the washing machine. In addition, the method comprises a step of reading a door contact signal, wherein the door contact signal represents a state of a door of the washing machine, and a step of providing a start option signal to a user interface if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within a predefined time period started in response to the end signal, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme.
For example, the washing machine may be a washing machine for private households, in which, depending on the household size, between 3 and 6 laundry batches are washed in a week, for example. In this case, the washing machine can, for example, comprise intelligent electronic wash management with options such as the so-called start preselection or intelligent use of networked washing machines via an app controller. As a result, a user can advantageously be enabled to schedule a wash cycle such that the laundry can be removed directly after termination of a washing programme even in the case of increasing professional activity. Despite such wash management, it may happen that moist textiles remain idle in the washing machine for an undesirably long idle time after termination of a washing programme, for example because they were forgotten or removal was not possible for other reasons. In this case, if the laundry batch is not removed in due time from the washing machine, a subjective perception of laundry odour that indicates an unhygienic state may occur. In order to avoid long idle times of the textiles and subsequent starting of another extensive washing programme using further resources, the method presented herein advantageously offers the possibility of re-treating the textiles in a resource-saving manner.
For this purpose, the end signal which represents the end of the washing programme is received after termination of a washing programme, for example by an electronic apparatus of the washing machine designed for this purpose. In response to the end signal, a counter can then be started, for example, by means of which a predefined time period can be detected. In addition, the door contact signal is read, which represents a state of the door of the washing machine. For example, a closed state of the door can be detected via the door contact signal. It can thus be detected whether the door is opened, for example when a user removes the textiles or the load from the washing machine. If the door is not opened within the predefined time period, the start option signal is provided, which offers the user the option to start an additional hygiene rinse programme. This selection option can be displayed, for example, on a display of the washing machine or in an app of a mobile device networked with the washing machine. Advantageously, a user is thereby, on the one hand, reminded of the load state of the washing machine and, on the other hand, can start a resource-saving treatment programme, which can also be referred to as a hygiene rinse, for treating the textiles. Overall, the intelligent hygiene rinse allows an operator of the washing machine to remove the laundry batch hygienically, even after a longer idle time. As a result of the hygiene rinse, the batch can be treated using minimum resources and can be provided freshly washed. A subjective impression of odour and contamination can be eliminated.
According to one embodiment, in the step of reading, the door contact signal can be read via a door interface to a door contact sensor arranged on the door. For example, the door contact sensor may detect whether the door is in an open or closed state, and may provide this information. Advantageously, by means of a contact sensor, it can be detected in a reliable and cost-effective manner whether the door of the washing machine is opened.
According to a further embodiment, the method may comprise an additional step of setting the time period using a setting signal, which may represent a duration of the time period set via the user interface. For example, via an input device on the washing machine, such as a display with touch function, or in an app of a mobile device, a user can specify how long the textiles may be idle in the washing machine after a washing programme. For example, a maximum time period of two hours can be set, and the start option signal can be provided only after this time period has elapsed and if the door was not opened. Advantageously, the method can thus be individually adjusted to the desires and requirements of a user.
According to a further embodiment, the method can have a further step of outputting a start signal for starting the hygiene rinse programme. This step can be carried out in response to a confirmation signal read via the user interface, wherein the confirmation signal can represent a selection made by the user to start the hygiene rinse programme. For example, in the step of providing, a user can be given a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme, for example with a yes/no query in an app. If the user confirms this option, for example by tapping “Yes”, a confirmation signal can be output and, in response to this confirmation signal, the hygiene rinse programme can be started. Advantageously, as a result, the textiles can be treated directly and without a time delay in the washing machine.
In addition, in the step of outputting, the start signal for starting the hygiene rinse programme can be output in the form of an additional rinse cycle according to the washing programme or in the form of a water-reduced rinse cycle. For example, a distinction can be made between an additional rinse cycle, which can adequately correspond to the rinse of the completed programme, and a water-reduced rinse cycle, which can also be referred to as “Spin & Spray”. In this case, for example, in the water-reduced rinse cycle, the start signal may only be provided to, for example, the drive of the washing drum of the washing machine and to the pump so that a function for recirculation can be used, in which no additional water is required. Advantageously, the treatment of the textiles can thereby be optimally adjusted to the given washing situation.
According to a further embodiment, the method can comprise a step of adjusting a sequence of the hygiene rinse cycle using a washing programme signal, wherein the washing programme signal can represent programme information on the washing programme. For example, the downstream process of the hygiene rinse can be based on the terminated washing programme. Depending on the settings of the washing programme, such as programme selection, options and extras, and the information from the process, such as amount of laundry, load, water consumption and energy consumption, number of rinse cycles, residual moisture or programme duration, the downstream hygiene rinse can be adjusted in terms of process engineering. In this case, the hygiene rinse cycle can, for example, have various variants. For example, after a washing programme “Cotton” at a temperature of 60° C. and an extra set “Water+”, in the case of an amount of laundry of 6.4 kg and a programme duration of 2.39 hours, a hygiene rinse cycle with variant A can be started, which can correspond to a rinse cycle from the programme “Cotton” and can have a comparable water level. Likewise, for example, after a washing programme “Delicate” at a temperature of 30° C. and an extra set “Single Wash”, in the case of an amount of laundry of 0.2 kg and a programme duration of 39 minutes, a hygiene rinse cycle with variant B can be started, which can correspond to a rinse cycle with low amounts of water with a so-called “Spin & Spray” method. Similarly, for example, after a washing programme “Cotton Hygiene” at a temperature of 75° C. and an extra set “Allergowash”, in the case of an amount of laundry of 4.3 kg and a programme duration of 3.59 hours, a hygiene rinse cycle with variant C can be started, which can correspond to a rinse cycle from the programme “Cotton” and can have a comparable water level. Advantageously, by such an adjustment of the hygiene rinse cycle, a consumption of water and energy can in each case be optimally adjusted to the textiles to be treated.
According to a further embodiment, in the step of receiving, the end signal can represent an end of a crease protection programme. For example, 30-minute crease protection can, for example, be added to the actual washing programme, during which crease protection the textiles can be spun at a lower speed in the washing drum than during the main wash cycle. In this case, the crease protection can be regarded as an end portion of the washing programme. In this case, the end signal can be provided only after termination of such a crease protection programme, or the duration of the crease protection programme can be added to the time period in which waiting for an opening of the door takes place. This has the advantage that the textiles can be optimally treated even if a crease protection program was added to the actual washing programme.
According to a further embodiment, in the step of providing, the start option signal can is provided to the user interface, which can be arranged on the washing machine and, additionally or alternatively, on a mobile device. For example, the user interface can be arranged directly on the washing machine in the form of a display with a touch function, a rotary toggle or one or more buttons or can also be designed as part of an app, by means of which the washing machine can be controlled even over greater distances. Advantageously, a user can thus directly influence the desired sequences of the washing machine.
The approach presented herein furthermore creates an apparatus which is designed to carry out, control or implement, in corresponding devices, the steps of a variant of a method presented herein. The object on which the disclosure is based can also be achieved quickly and efficiently by this embodiment variant of the disclosure in the form of an apparatus.
The apparatus can be designed to read input signals and to determine and provide output signals using the input signals. An input signal can, for example, represent a sensor signal that can be read via an input interface of the apparatus. An output signal can represent a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the apparatus. The apparatus can be designed to determine the output signals using a processing rule implemented in hardware or software. For example, the apparatus can comprise a logic circuit, an integrated switching circuit or a software module for this purpose and can, for example, be realized as a discrete component or can be comprised by a discrete component.
In addition, a washing machine with a hygiene rinse programme and a variant of the apparatus presented above are presented. Advantageously, all aforementioned advantages can be optimally implemented by this combination.
Even if the described approach is described on the basis of a household appliance, the apparatus/method described herein can be used accordingly in connection with a commercial or professional device.
A computer program product or computer program with program code, which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory, is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or an apparatus, the program product or program can be used to carry out, implement and/or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described above.
An embodiment of the disclosure is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. In the drawings:
In the following description of favourable exemplary embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference signs are used for the elements shown in the various figures and acting similarly, wherein a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with.
Optionally, the control device 120 is also designed to provide a washing programme signal 125 to the apparatus 105. Merely by way of example, the washing programme signal 125 provides programme information about a selected washing programme. Such programme information comprises, for example, the selected temperature, additionally selected extras, the amount of laundry or the programme duration of the wash cycle.
The apparatus 105 is designed to read a door contact signal 130 via a door interface 135 as a result of the end signal 115 in order to detect or monitor a closed state of a door 140 of the washing machine 100. Merely by way of example, the door contact signal 130 in this exemplary embodiment can be provided by a door contact sensor 145, which is arranged on the door 140. In addition, in one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 105 comprises a counter 150, which is designed to, merely by way of example, count a predefined time period in response to the end signal 115. In one exemplary embodiment, the setting signal 155 represents the duration of the time period to be waited. This duration is, merely by way of example, specified by a user via a user interface 165 arranged on a mobile device 160. In another exemplary embodiment, the user interface can also be arranged directly on the washing machine.
In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile device 160 is a smartphone on which an app for controlling the washing machine 100 is stored. Merely by way of example, in another exemplary embodiment, it can also be a tablet, a laptop or a similar mobile device.
In this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 105 is designed to provide a start option signal 175 to the user interface 165 if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal 130 within the predefined time period started in response to the end signal 115. A selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme can be provided for a user by means of the start option signal 175. As a result of a selection made by the user to start the hygiene rinse programme, the apparatus 105 in this exemplary embodiment is designed to read a confirmation signal 180 representing this selection and, in response to the confirmation signal 180, to provide a start signal 185, merely by way of example, to the control device 120. Merely by way of example, the start signal 120 represents the start of the hygiene rinse programme in the form of a water-reduced rinse cycle, which can also be referred to as “Spin & Spray”. In another exemplary embodiment, an additional rinse cycle according to the previously terminated washing programme is started using the start signal.
Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, in the event that the laundry was subjected to a longer dwell time in the washing machine 100 after the programme end, a downstream process is automatically added and can be carried out or acknowledged by the operator. The programme end can be clearly defined by the washing machine by adding, merely by way of example, 30-minute crease protection after termination of the programme. Via a door contact of the door contact sensor 145, it can be determined whether the load has been removed or is still located in the washing machine 100. If the door contact did not signal a door opening during the one defined time period, which is, merely by way of example, a time period of less than two hours, the automatic hygiene rinse is offered. This function can be controlled by the user directly on the washing machine 100 or via the app. The downstream process of the hygiene rinse is based, merely by way of example, on the terminated washing programme. Depending on the settings, such as programme, options and extras, and the information from the process, such as amount of laundry, loading stage, water consumption and energy consumption, number of rinse cycles, residual moisture and programme duration, the downstream hygiene rinse is adjusted in terms of process engineering. In this case, merely by way of example, a distinction is made between an additional rinse cycle, which adequately corresponds to the rinse of the completed programme, or a simple so-called “Spin & Spray” rinse cycle with resource-saving use of water.
In one exemplary embodiment, the method 200 optionally comprises a step 220 of adjusting a sequence of the hygiene rinse cycle using a washing programme signal, wherein the washing programme signal represents programme information on the washing programme. In the representation shown here, the step 220 of adjusting takes place, merely by way of example, after the step 215 of reading and, in another exemplary embodiment, can also already be carried out before the step 215 of reading or after one of the following steps.
In this exemplary embodiment, a step 225 of providing a start option signal to a user interface follows the optional step 220 of adjusting, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme. This step is carried out under the precondition that no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within the time period defined in step 205 and started in response to the end signal.
Merely by way of example, the method 200 also comprises a step of outputting a start signal for starting the hygiene rinse programme in response to a confirmation signal read via the user interface, wherein the confirmation signal represents a selection made by the user to start the hygiene rinse programme.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 110 965.5 | Apr 2021 | DE | national |
The present disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of PCT Application PCT/EP2022/059627, filed on Apr. 11, 2022, which claims priority to and the benefit of German Application 102021110965.5, filed on Apr. 29, 2021, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/059627 | 4/11/2022 | WO |
