TREATMENT MODULE FOR A LAUNDRY TREATMENT DEVICE, LAUNDRY TREATMENT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A LAUNDRY TREATMENT DEVICE

Abstract

A treatment module for a laundry treatment device includes a number of treatment brushes, which are each intended for contact with a laundry item to be treated. In order to organize a smoothing process in the most optimum possible way, each two treatment brushes form at least one pair and are disposed in a treatment position relative to one another or are able to be disposed in the treatment position, in which the treatment brushes of the at least one pair lie opposite one another so that, upon positioning of a laundry item between the treatment brushes of the at least one pair, they are in contact with both sides of the laundry item.

Description

The invention relates to a treatment module for a laundry treatment device, comprising a number of treatment brushes, which are each provided for a contact with a laundry item to be treated. Furthermore the invention relates to a laundry treatment device with an aforementioned treatment module and also to a method for operating a laundry treatment device.

With laundry treatment devices, devices are known inter alia in which laundry items mostly hung up individually can undergo a respective treatment. In this type of device, also known in some cases as a laundry treatment cabinet, a movable treatment module is frequently provided in this case, with which at least one treatment step of a respective treatment of the laundry item introduced into the cabinet is undertaken. In this case such a treatment module can have treatment brushes, which come into contact with the introduced item of laundry in the course of the treatment step, in order to smooth the latter.

WO 2020/084315 A1 discloses a laundry treatment device embodied as a laundry treatment cabinet, which has a treatment chamber into which laundry items to be treated can be introduced individually. A treatment module is further provided in the treatment chamber of the laundry treatment device, which can be moved vertically in the treatment chamber and has a flexible steam head. The item of laundry to be treated is spread out in the treatment chamber in order to smooth it, wherein the steam head of the treatment module is brought into contact with the laundry item during the course of the treatment. Moreover treatment brushes are provided on an opposite side of the steam head, which each come into contact with this side of the laundry item during the treatment of the laundry item.

Using the prior art described above as its starting point, it is now the object of the present invention to create a treatment module for a laundry treatment device, wherein folds/creases of a laundry item introduced into the laundry treatment device are able to be removed as far as possible with this treatment module as part of a smoothing process.

Starting from the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features, this object is to be achieved. Each of the dependent claims following said claim reflect advantageous developments of the invention. A laundry treatment device, in which an inventive treatment module is put into use, is further the subject matter of claims 8 to 10. Moreover the claims 11 to 13 each relate to a method for operating a laundry treatment device.

In accordance with the invention a treatment module comprises a number of treatment brushes, which are each intended for contact with a laundry item to be treated. In this case the inventive treatment module is intended for use in a laundry treatment device, in order there, in a treatment chamber and in the course of a smoothing process, to carry out via the treatment brushes as comprehensive as possible a smoothing of the laundry item introduced into the treatment chamber.

In the sense of the invention the treatment brushes involve components of the treatment module which, during the course of a treatment of a laundry item to be treated, come into contact with the laundry item at bristles or bristle-like protruding elements, in order to introduce mechanical stresses into the laundry item and thereby to reduce folds/creases at least partially. In such cases the bristles or the bristle-like elements preferably consist of an elastic plastic material.

The treatment module is preferably embodied to be accommodated movably in the laundry treatment device, in order to realize an at least one-off movement of the treatment module along the laundry item to be treated during contact of the treatment brushes with the laundry item and, in doing so, to bring about the smoothing of the laundry item here. To this end in particular corresponding guide elements are provided on the treatment module side, via which the treatment module in the assembled state is guided in corresponding guides of the laundry treatment device to present a guided movement in the laundry treatment device.

Further preferably, on the treatment module side, one of more drive apparatuses are provided, via which drive movements can be transmitted to the drive module.

The invention now comprises the technical teaching that each two treatment brushes form at least one pair and, in said pair, are arranged in relation to each other in one treatment position in each case or which can be arranged in the one treatment position in each case in which the treatment brushes of the at least one pair lie opposite one another so that, on positioning of a laundry item between the treatment brushes of the at least one pair, they are in contact with this laundry item on both sides. In other words, in the inventive treatment module at least one pair is provided, which is composed of two treatment brushes in each case. In a treatment position of the treatment brushes of the at least one pair the treatment brushes are positioned in relation to one another in this arrangement so that, on positioning of a laundry item to be treated between the treatment brushes, each of the treatment brushes of the at least one pair comes into contact with the laundry item. In this case the treatment brushes of the at least one pair then act from both sides on the laundry item lying between them. In one variant the brushes of the at least one pair are in this case permanently positioned in relation to one another in the treatment position, while in an alternate variant to this, a positioning of the treatment brushes of the at least one pair in the treatment position from another position is able to be shown.

This type of embodiment of a treatment module has the advantage in this case that, in the two-sided contact of the brushes of the at least one pair with the laundry item which takes place in the treatment position, mechanical tensions are also introduced into the item of clothing on both sides and accordingly a reliable smoothing of folds/creases can be achieved. A permanent positioning of the brushes in the treatment position, as a result of the then fixed positioning of the brushes, allows a simple structure of the treatment module, wherein this variant is especially realized when only one movement along the laundry item to be treated with the treatment module is to be carried out. By contrast positioning of the brushes in the treatment position from another position makes it possible for a multiple movement along the laundry item in one direction of movement to take place, while during movement in the opposite direction, by explicitly leaving the treatment position, contact between the brushes and the laundry item is avoided, which could otherwise result in new folds being introduced into the laundry item. For this a corresponding movable mounting of the brushes in the treatment module is then to be realized.

The treatment brushes forming at least one pair and lying opposite one another in the treatment position are preferably embodied with a shape corresponding to one another. In the treatment position the brushes of one pair are then in particular positioned in parallel to one another, so that in each case a linear or flat contact of the brushes with the laundry item positioned between them is formed. Further preferably the brushes of the at least one pair preferably lie in one plane in each case in the treatment position, wherein these planes are then parallel with one another and are also aligned to a plane in which the laundry item to be treated is arranged in its width and its height direction.

According to one form of embodiment of the invention the treatment brushes of the at least one pair are embodied as rotatable round brushes. In this case the treatment brushes of the at least one pair are present as brushes that are equipped on a cylindrical main body with the bristles or the bristle-like elements and can be rotated for a contact with the laundry item. As an alternative or also as an addition to this form of embodiment, the treatment brushes of the at least one pair are embodied as brush strips. These brush strips have a longitudinal strip-like main body in this case, which is provided on one side with the bristles or bristle-like elements.

If a number of pairs are provided in the inventive treatment module, then the two aforementioned variants can be combined with one another by at least one pair being formed by round brushes and at least one pair by brush strips. The use of a number of pairs of brushes has the advantage that this enables them to move in the widest variety of areas along the laundry item to be treated and smooth it in doing so. Especially preferably the pairs of brushes are aligned in this case so that treatment brushes of one or more pairs with their longitudinal axes or axes or rotation are aligned in a horizontal direction and thus in a width direction of the laundry item to be treated, while the treatment brushes of one or more further pairs with their longitudinal axes or axes of rotation are oriented in a vertical direction and thus in a height direction of the laundry item to be treated. This makes a multi-axis spreading out of the laundry item to be treated possible in that treatment brushes of one or more pairs introduce stresses in the height direction and here in particular directed away from a hanging facility of the laundry item, while the treatment brushes of one or more other pairs bring about stresses in the width direction of the laundry item to be treated.

In a development of one or also both of the aforementioned forms of embodiment bristles of the individual brushes are each inclined away from a central plane of the brush. In an advantageous way a spreading out of the laundry item between them in the width direction of the brush is achieved, which improves the smoothing effect. However other angular alignments of the individual bristles in relation to the main body of the respective brush are conceivable in the sense of the invention.

In a development of the invention the treatment brushes of the at least one pair are adapted by their geometry to the circumstances, such as for example the geometry, of the laundry item to be treated. Thus the treatment brushes of the or the pairs can be arranged in the treatment module in such a way that specific areas of the laundry item to be treated are explicitly left out, such as for example a collar area of a shirt to be treated. On the other hand a separate pair of treatment brushes can also be provided for a specific area of the laundry item to be treated, which, by an arrangement of the associated treatment brushes to the circumstances of the laundry item, is adapted in the corresponding area. In this way, for a button-down front of a shirt to be treated, a number of pairs of treatment brushes can be provided, which are aligned on both sides of the button-down front in a vertical direction, in order to create lower stresses in the area of the button-down front in the horizontal direction, which otherwise would cause folds around the buttonholes of the button-down front.

An advantageous possible embodiment of the invention, which in this case can be used as an alternative or also in combination with one of the aforementioned forms of embodiment, is that one treatment brush is part of two pairs, in which, in the treatment position, this treatment brush simultaneously lies opposite two other treatment brushes. In this case this treatment brush is thus simultaneously involved in two pairs of treatment brushes, which on the one hand has the advantage that thus different pairs can be formed with a lower number of treatment brushes. This accordingly reduces the manufacturing outlay for realizing the inventive treatment module. On the other hand in this case, in particular when embodying the treatment brushes as round brushes, the effect is produced that the contact areas of the treatment brushes with the laundry item to be treated increase, which enhances the smoothing effect that can be produced.

In a development of the invention the treatment brushes of the at least one pair are each accommodated in an assigned part of the frame, wherein the frame parts are able to be moved for positioning the individual treatment brushes in the treatment position. In an advantageous way this enables the positioning of the individual treatment brushes in the treatment position to be realized, wherein a positioning of the individual treatment brushes via the frame part in a position differing from the treatment position, in which these cannot come into contact with a laundry item placed between the treatment brushes of a pair, is then possible as well. This makes it possible only to bring the treatment brushes into contact with a laundry item lying between them when the treatment module and the laundry item are moving relative to one another in a desired direction of movement, while a contact in an opposing direction of movement is excluded by explicit positioning in the different position, in order to prevent new folds/creases being introduced. Especially preferably the frame parts of the treatment module can be moved relative to one another in this case in order to move the frame parts towards one another or away from one another and thereby to initiate or to exclude an assumption of the treatment position of the treatment brushes. As an alternative thereto however a tilting of the current frame part and thus also of the treatment brush accommodated here can also be provided.

According to one form of embodiment of the invention the treatment brushes are each arranged on a telescopic bar, of which the ends are guided movably in a frame in each case. In an advantageous way this enables the movement of the treatment brushes along the laundry item to be treated to be organized with more degrees of freedom, in that the treatment brushes are explicitly positioned at an angle in the frame and in this case a length compensation is realized via the respective telescopic bar.

The subject matter of the invention is moreover a laundry treatment device, which has a treatment chamber, into which a laundry item to be treated can be introduced. The laundry treatment device in this case is preferably embodied in the form of a laundry treatment cabinet, into which laundry items to be treated can be introduced individually. In this case the treatment chamber of the laundry treatment device can have an upstream input magazine and/or a downstream output magazine, wherein in the input magazine a number of individual laundry items to be treated can be introduced in sequence into the treatment chamber or in the output magazine a number of laundry items already individually treated in the treatment chamber are accommodated. A transfer of the individual laundry item between input magazine, treatment chamber and output magazine in this case is further preferably undertaken via a magazine shaft on which the laundry is hung with a hanging facility in particular in the form of a coat hanger.

In the laundry treatment device the treatment module is embodied according to one or more of the aforementioned variants, wherein the treatment brushes of the at least one pair of the treatment module can be brought into contact on both sides with the introduced laundry item positioned between them for carrying out a smoothing process. In an advantageous way a laundry treatment device is implemented by this in which, via the treatment brushes of the treatment module, a reliable smoothing and thereby removal of folds/creases can be achieved.

Preferably in this case the laundry item to be treated, in the course of the smoothing process, is contacted by the treatment brushes of the treatment module either over its complete surface or over at least over a part of its surface, in order to bring about as complete as possible a smoothing of the laundry item. This complete or at least large area contact with the laundry item to be treated is undertaken especially preferably in this case via a number of pairs of treatment brushes, wherein the pairs, by virtue of their alignment, as already described above for the treatment brushes, can lie with different orientations in relation to one another.

According to a form of embodiment of the aforementioned laundry treatment device, the laundry item to be treated is introduced into the treatment chamber via a hanging facility. In this case the treatment module and the hanging facility in the treatment chamber can be moved relative to one another to organize the smoothing process. For carrying out the smoothing process the hanging facility and the treatment module can thus carry out a movement relative to one another, wherein especially preferably in this case a movable mounting of the treatment module in the treatment chamber of the laundry treatment device is provided in order to move the treatment module within the course of the smoothing process relative to the stationary hanging facility and thus also the stationary laundry item to be treated. As an alternative it would also be just as easily conceivable for the hanging facility and the laundry item hung on it to move within the course of the smoothing process, while the treatment module stays in one position.

In a development of the invention the treatment module can be moved and, for bringing the laundry item into the treatment chamber and for taking the laundry item out of the treatment chamber, can be transferred into a parked position. The treatment module can also be moved into a parked position, wherein this, within the framework of the invention, can lie high up or above the magazine shaft, via which the items are brought into the treatment chamber or taken out of the treatment chamber. Moreover the parked position can also be provided below the area in which the laundry item to be treated is moved in the treatment chamber. If the parked position lies above the magazine shaft in this case, then, as a result of the positioning in the parked position, a collision with the laundry item or its hanging facility cannot occur. If on the other hand the parked position lies at the height of the magazine shaft, then it is conceivable within the framework of the invention for the treatment module to be designed divided accordingly or provided with outlets through which a hanging facility of the laundry item to be treated can pass over the magazine shaft when being brought in or taken out.

An inventive laundry treatment device is operated in the sense of the invention in such a way that initially a laundry item to be treated is brought into the treatment chamber of the laundry treatment device, wherein subsequently the treatment brushes of the at least one pair of treatment modules are brought into contact with the laundry item positioned between them for organizing the smoothing process. Then, in the course of the smoothing process, the treatment module and a hanging facility accommodating the laundry item to be treated are moved relative to one another.

According to one form of embodiment of the invention the laundry item is brought into contact with the treatment brushes in the course of the smoothing process at least once, either over its complete surface or over a part of its surface in each case. Especially preferably in this case a multiple contact between the treatment brushes and the laundry takes place by the treatment module and thus also the treatment brushes being guided a number of times over the laundry item to be treated. As already described previously the treatment brushes in this case can preferably be moved individually out of the treatment position in order, in the course of a backwards movement of the treatment module relative to the laundry item to be treated, to avoid any undesired contact between the treatment brushes and the laundry item.

One possible advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the introduced laundry item and the treatment module having round brushes are moved relative to one another in the course of the smoothing process, wherein the individual round brushes of the treatment module are rotated in this case at a speed of rotation that corresponds to a rolling motion speed of the round brush at the laundry item in the course of the relative movement of the treatment module relative to the laundry item. This has the advantage that hereby wear on the item of clothing is avoided, which accordingly protects the material of the laundry item to be treated.

As a variation of the inventive solution it is also conceivable for one brush of each pair of brushes to be omitted and instead to work against a pressure plate through the two layers of the item of clothing with the brush still remaining. To this end this pressure plate would have to be designed for example with at least one smooth surface facing towards the brush. The pressure plate can be provided in a fixed location in this case, wherein, as well as a large fixed-location pressure plate, a pressure plate moving along with the treatment module and thus with the brush can also be employed. The latter could then also be shaped to correspond to the brush, such as with a (flat) cylindrical recess for a round brush pressing onto to it from opposite to it. Moreover a pressure plate for the treatment could also be placed in a fixed location or movably in an inner area of the laundry item to be treated, wherein then the treatment works from one, but preferably from both, outer sides of the laundry item against the pressure plate with treatment brushes.

The invention is not restricted to the specified combination of the features of the main claim or of the claims dependent hereon. Above and beyond this, options are produced of combining individual features with one another, even where they originate from the claims of the description of preferable forms of embodiment given below or directly from the drawings. The reference of the claims to the drawings by the use of reference numbers is not intended to restrict the scope of protection of the claims.

Advantageous forms of embodiment, which are explained below, are shown in the drawings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a laundry treatment device in accordance with a preferred form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the laundry treatment device from FIG. 1 with a treatment module corresponding to a first form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a further view of the treatment module from FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a treatment module corresponding to a second possible embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a treatment module in accordance with a third form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a treatment module corresponding to a fourth possible embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows further views of the treatment module from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a treatment module in accordance with a fifth form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a treatment module corresponding to a sixth possible embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a treatment module in accordance with a seventh form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a treatment module corresponding to an eighth possible embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 shows a further view of the treatment module from FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a view of the laundry treatment device from FIG. 1 with a treatment module in accordance with ninth form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a further view of the laundry treatment device with the treatment module from FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram of a treatment module corresponding to a tenth form of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 shows a further view of the treatment module from FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows views of an alternate possible embodiment of a treatment brush;

FIG. 18 shows a view of a further alternate form of embodiment of a treatment brush;

FIG. 19 shows a view of a treatment module in accordance with an alternate form of embodiment; and

FIG. 20 shows a schematic diagram of a treatment module in accordance with a further alternate form of embodiment.

A schematic view of a laundry treatment device 1 corresponding to a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is disclosed by FIG. 1. In the figure the laundry treatment device 1 has a treatment chamber 2, which has an upstream input magazine 3 and also a downstream output magazine 4. In this case a number of laundry items to be treated 5 can be hung on hanging facilities 6 in the input magazine 3 of the laundry treatment device 1 and brought out of the input magazine 3 individually to the treatment chamber 2 in order to subject the individual laundry item 5 in the treatment chamber 2 to a smoothing process for removal of folds/creases. Subsequent to the smoothing process the treated laundry item 5 is then transferred into the output magazine, from which it can subsequently be removed. A transfer between the input magazine 3 and the treatment chamber 2 and also between the treatment chamber 2 and the output magazine is undertaken in this case via a magazine shaft—not shown in any greater detail in this example. The hanging facilities 6 in this case involve clothes hangers, on which one laundry item is hung in each case, which in the present case involves a shirt by way of example.

Also indicated in FIG. 1 is a coordinate system, wherein a respective width direction of the laundry item 5 is oriented in an x direction, a respective height direction of the laundry item 5 in a y direction and also a respective depth direction of the laundry item 5 in a z direction. In the z direction the laundry items 5 are also moved in this case out of the input magazine 3 into the treatment chamber 2 and out of said chamber into the output magazine 4.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the laundry treatment device 1 from FIG. 1 in the area of the treatment chamber 2, in which a treatment module 7 corresponding to a first form of embodiment of the invention is provided. This treatment module 7 is able to be moved in this case by means of guide elements 8 and 9 in the y direction on associated guides 10 and 11 of the laundry treatment device 1 and serves to smooth the laundry item 5 currently located in the treatment chamber 2. The treatment module 7, when guided by the guide elements 8 and 9 on the guides 10 and 11, can be moved via a drive direction—not shown in any greater detail in this figure—in the y direction relative to the laundry item 5.

The treatment module 7 comprises a frame 12, via which the guide elements 8 and 9 are connected to one another and which is arranged in an x-z plane surrounding the laundry item 5 just placed in the treatment chamber, so that the laundry item 5 lies in an inner area of the frame 12. In the course of the movement of the treatment module 7 in the y direction this frame 12 travels in this case surrounding the laundry item 5. In the frame 12 in this case, on at least one side of the laundry item 5 a steam head 13 is accommodated, via which water vapor or an aerosol can be introduced into the inner area of the frame 12, in order to apply the water vapor or the aerosol to the laundry item 5 located there. The steam head 13 in this case is connected within the frame 12 via lines 14 to a vaporizer 15 and a tank 16. While the vaporizer 15 is fastened in this case to the treatment module 7 and moves jointly with the latter, the tank 16 is provided in a fixed location in the inner area of the treatment chamber 2 of the laundry treatment device 1. This in particular gives access to the tank 16 from outside, in order to enable this to be filled. In principle an arrangement of a tank on an outer side of the laundry treatment device 1 would also be conceivable.

As well as the steam head 13 a number of treatment brushes 17 are also provided in the treatment module 7, wherein these treatment brushes 17 are each embodied in this case as rotatable round brushes 18 to 32 and in this case lie in the frame 12 in treatment positions opposite one another in pairs in each case, as shown in FIG. 3 by way of example with the aid of one pair 33 of the round brushes 22. In this case the brushes of the respective pair 33 are positioned in relation to one another in the treatment position in the frame 12 so that they come into contact on both sides with the laundry item located in the inner area of the frame 12. In the course of a movement of the treatment module 7 in the y direction the treatment brushes 17 introduce stresses into the laundry item 5 and thereby ensure that said item is smoothed.

The round brushes 18 to 32 in this case are aligned in pairs in the frame 12 in parallel x-y planes so that, in the course of a movement of the treatment module 7, multi-axis stresses in each case are introduced into associated areas of the laundry item 5. In this way, via the round brushes 18, 19, 20 and also 30, 31 and 32, a smoothing of sleeves 34 and 35 of the laundry item 5 is undertaken, while the round brushes 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 serve to smooth the chest and stomach area 36 and the back area—not visible here—of the laundry item 5. The round brushes 24, 25 and 26 are in this case guided on a front side of the laundry item 5 over the button-down front 37 of the laundry item 5 and, in the y direction by comparison with the round brushes 21, 22 and 23 and also 27, 28 and 29, are placed lying further down in the frame 12, in order to explicitly miss out a collar area 38 of the laundry item 5 during the treatment.

As is indicated in particular in FIG. 3, the treatment module 7 is moved upwards and downwards in the y direction in the course of the smoothing process, wherein the round brushes 18 to 32 are each rotated in this case. In this case the rotation of the round brushes 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 can be set in each case so that slight introduction of a force directed away from the hanging facility 6 is initiated in the laundry item 5. As an alternative thereto however a rotation of the round brushes 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 can also be selected in an advantageous way so that a speed of rotation of the individual round brush 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 corresponds to a rolling motion speed of the individual round brush 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 at the laundry item 5 in the course of the movement of the treatment module 7.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a treatment module 39 corresponding to a second form of embodiment of the invention, as can likewise be implemented for the laundry treatment device 1. This treatment module 39 very largely corresponds in this case to the variants according to FIGS. 2 and 3, with the difference that the treatment brushes 17 have been replaced entirely or in part by brush strips 40, which are placed rigidly in the frame 12. As can be seen in this case in FIG. 4, these brush strips 40 also form pairs 41 and are positioned in the frame 12 lying opposite one another on both sides of the laundry item 5 in a treatment position, in which, during a movement of the treatment module 39 in the y direction when passing along the laundry item 5, they come in contact with said item. In this case, by contrast with the variants according to FIGS. 2 and 3 however, only a single pass along the laundry item 5 in a direction directed away from the hanging facility 6 is undertaken, since an opposing pass, as a result of the contact of the brush strip 40 with the laundry item 5, could lead to a reintroduction of folds/creases. Otherwise the form of embodiment corresponds to the variants according to FIGS. 2 and 3, so that the reader is referred to the description given for said figures.

FIG. 5 discloses a schematic view of a treatment module 42, which is implemented corresponding to a third possible embodiment of the invention and can likewise be used for the laundry treatment device 1. In this case this treatment module 42 very largely corresponds to the treatment module 39 from FIG. 4, wherein the treatment module 42, by contrast with said module, now has two frame parts 43 and 44, which are provided on both sides of the laundry item 5 lying between them and just positioned in the treatment chamber and each bear one of the brush strips 40 of the individual pair 41. These frame parts 42 and 44 can now, as well as a movement in the y direction, also be moved in the z direction, as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG. 5. This enables a multiple pass along the laundry item 5 to be undertaken by the treatment module 42 in the course of the smoothing process, wherein the brush strips 40 of the individual pair 41 are in this case only brought into contact with the laundry item 5 in the course of a movement of the treatment module 42 and thus also of the frame parts 43 and 44 in the y direction and directed away from the hanging facility 6, while in the course of a movement of the treatment module 42 in the y direction towards the hanging facility 6, the frame parts 43 and 44 are first moved in the z direction away from one another, in order to raise the brush strips 40 from the laundry item 5 until the treatment module 42 has again been placed in an upper end location in the area of the hanging facility 6. Thereafter the frame parts 43 and 44 are moved back again in the z direction towards one another, in order to bring the brush strips 40 in the treatment position into contact with the laundry item 5 again. Otherwise the possible embodiment according to FIG. 5 corresponds to the preceding variant according to FIG. 4, so that the reader is referred to the description given for said figure.

FIG. 6 further shows a schematic diagram of a treatment module 45 in accordance with a fourth possible embodiment of the invention. This treatment module 45 too can be used in this case in the laundry treatment device 1. In this embodiment this treatment module 45 very largely corresponds to the variant according to FIG. 4, in that a frame 46 able to be shifted in a y direction is provided, which accommodates brush strips 40 lying opposite one another on both sides of the laundry item to be treated. In this case the latter is visible in the further views of the treatment module 45 in FIG. 7. In this embodiment the frame 46 is now conceived so that, in an upper location of the treatment module 45 shown in FIG. 6, the collar area 38 of the laundry item 5 is explicitly left out and accordingly no contact between the brush strips 40 and the laundry item 5 can take place here. Otherwise the variant according to FIG. 6 corresponds to the variant according to FIG. 4, so that the reader is referred to the description given for said figure. Within the framework of the invention a variation of the possible embodiment from FIG. 6 as a type of form of embodiment according to FIG. 5 would also be conceivable, in which the frame 46 is accordingly subdivided into two frame parts able to be moved relative to one another and a multiple pass along the item of clothing 5 with the treatment module 46 could take place.

A structure of a treatment module 47 corresponding to a fifth form of embodiment of the invention is disclosed by FIG. 8, as can likewise be used in the laundry treatment device from FIG. 1. As already in the treatment module 7 according to FIGS. 2 and 3, in this case a number of treatment brushes 17 in the form of rotatable round brushes 48, 49 and 50 are again accommodated in a frame—not shown in any greater detail in this figure—of the treatment module 47, which lie opposite one another on both sides of the laundry item to be treated 5 and in this case form pairs 51 and 52. By contrast with the variant according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the round brush 49 is here however at the same time part of the pair 51, and also of the pair 52, in that the round brush 49, in the treatment position, lies opposite the round brush 48 and also the round brush 50 at the same time. The round brush 49 therefore ensures, both with the round brush 48 and also with the round brush 50, a contact on both sides with the laundry item 5, wherein the contact area is enlarged here by comparison with the variant according to FIGS. 2 and 3. As already with the variant according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame and thus also the round brushes 48 to 50 can be moved in the y direction in order to pass along the largest possible surface of the laundry item 5 with the round brushes 48 to 50 and in this case to smooth it. As already described for the variant according to FIGS. 2 and 3, a respective speed of rotation of the round brushes 48 to 50 can be organized in this case to introduce a force direction directed away from the hanging facility 6 or also just a rolling motion of the round brushes 48 to 50 at the laundry item 5. The structure shown in FIG. 8 can in this case be used in a similar way in the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for one or more of the treatment brushes 17 shown there.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a treatment module 53 in accordance with a sixth form of embodiment of the invention, as can likewise be used in the laundry treatment device 1 from FIG. 1. In this treatment module 53 a number of rotatable fixed-location round brushes 54, 55, 56 and 57 are provided, arranged as treatment brushes 17, which are arranged in pairs opposite one another on different sides of a laundry item to be treated 5. In this case only one of the two round brushes 54 or 55 or 56 or 57 of the pairs is to be seen in the diagram in FIG. 9 in each case, while the other brush in the plane of the drawing lies hidden in each case by the round brush that is visible, on the other side of the laundry item 5.

While the round brushes 54 and 55 in this figure are each oriented in the x direction, the round brushes 56 and 57 are each oriented in the y direction. In order to carry out the smoothing of the laundry item 5, a force F is introduced into the laundry item 5 in each case via the rotating round brushes 54 to 57, as indicated in FIG. 9 by the arrows. Accordingly a smoothing of the laundry item in the y direction is carried out via the pairs of round brushes 54 and 55 and a smoothing of the laundry item in the x direction is carried out via the pairs of round brushes 56 and 57.

This is also realized in a similar way in the case of a treatment module 58, which is shown schematically in FIG. 10 and is embodied corresponding to a seventh possible embodiment of the invention. In the treatment module 58 in this embodiment once again a number of rotatable, fixed-position round brushes 59, 60 and 61 are provided as treatment brushes 17, which are positioned in pairs in a respective treatment position on both sides of the laundry item to be treated 5, in order to smooth the laundry item 5 within the framework of a smoothing process. Like the round brush 59 or 60 or 61 already to be seen in the preceding variant according to FIG. 9 with the same coverage as is to be seen in FIG. 10, another round brush of the pair is arranged on the other side of the item of laundry 5 to be treated. The pairs of round brushes 59 and 60 in this case are each aligned in the y direction, while the pair of round brushes 61 is oriented in the x direction. As already with the variant according to FIG. 9, directions of rotation of the fixed-location round brushes 59, 60 and 61 are chosen in this case so that forces F with the directions indicated in FIG. 10 are introduced via the pairs of round brushes 59 to 61. By contrast with the preceding variant according to FIG. 9 however, the hanging facility 6 of the laundry item 5 is used as the upper support point here.

Furthermore FIGS. 11 and 12 show schematic views of a treatment module 62, which is embodied in accordance with an eighth form of embodiment of the invention and can likewise be used in the laundry treatment device 1. Once again, the treatment module 62 has a number of round brushes 63 and 64, which serve as treatment brushes 17 for the treatment of a laundry item 5 introduced into the treatment chamber of the laundry treatment device 1. As already for the preceding variants according to FIGS. 9 and 10, the round brushes 63 and also the round brushes 64 each form pairs, in which the round brushes 63 or 64 in FIGS. 11 and 12 lying with the same coverage behind one another are positioned in a treatment position in each case such that the two round brushes 63 or 64 of the individual pair can come into contact on both sides with the laundry item 5 positioned between them.

The round brushes 63 or 64 assigned in pairs to one another are each arranged on a telescopic bar 65, which is indicated in FIG. 12 for the round brushes 63. The telescopic bars 65 are at their ends each guided in a frame 66, wherein the respective ends can be shifted in relation to the frame 66 in the x direction. This enables the round brushes 63 or 64 to be guided for smoothing the laundry item 5 in the x direction over the laundry item 5, as is indicated in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12 in this case it can also be recognized that the round brushes 63 or 64 can be set in this case at an angle in the x-y plane, as is shown using the example of the round brushes 63 in FIG. 12, in that the upper ends and the lower ends of the telescopic bar 65 are not shifted in parallel. In this case the telescopic bar 65 can represent length compensation required for the angled position. In FIG. 11 the round brushes 63 and 64 are moved sideways into a position for making it possible to bring the laundry item 5 into a position between the round brushes 63 and 64 in the z direction. In FIG. 12 the round brushes 63 and 64 are then shown in the course of a smoothing process.

Furthermore FIGS. 13 and 14 show a treatment module 67 corresponding to a ninth possible embodiment of the invention, which can likewise be used in the laundry treatment device 1 from FIG. 1. In this case the treatment module 67 essentially corresponds to the variant according to FIGS. 2 and 3, with the difference that in a frame 68 of the treatment module 67, as well as a pair 69 of rotatable round brushes 70 and 71 oriented in an x direction on both sides thereof, other pairs of rotatable round brushes 72 and 73 or 74 are provided, which are each arranged lying at an angle in the x-y plane. While the pair 69 of the round brushes 70 and 72 is intended for smoothing the chest and stomach area 36 of the laundry item 5, the pairs of round brushes 72 and 73 or 74 are each provided for smoothing a sleeve 34 or 35.

Within the course of the smoothing process the treatment module 67 is moved upwards and downwards in the y direction, wherein the round brushes 70 to 74 are each rotated in this case. Once again, a rotation of the round brushes 70 to 74 in this case can be set in each case so that a slight introduction of a force directed away from the hanging facility 6 occurs in the laundry item 5. As an alternative thereto a rotation of the round brushes can however also be chosen so that a speed of rotation of the individual round brushes 70 to 74 corresponds to a rolling motion speed of the individual round brushes 70 to 74 at the laundry item 5 in the course of the movement of the treatment module 67.

A view of a treatment module 75 in accordance with a tenth form of embodiment of the invention emerges from FIG. 15, wherein this treatment module 75 too can be used in the laundry treatment device 1 from FIG. 1. The treatment module 75 in this case possesses a frame 76, in which two pairs of round brushes 77 and 78 are accommodated as treatment brushes 17, wherein the round brushes 77 or 78 of the individual pair in this case are once again positioned in relation to one another at treatment positions in order to make contact with the laundry item 5 positioned between them in each case. The round brushes 77 and 78 of the pairs are arranged in this case lying at an angle in the x-y plane, wherein the round brushes 77 in this case are inclined in the opposite direction to the round brushes 78.

FIG. 16 shows the application of the treatment module 75 in the laundry treatment device 1 in an overhead view. By contrast with the preceding variants, when a laundry item to be treated 5 is fed from the input magazine 3 into the treatment chamber 2 or for a transfer of an already treated laundry item from the treatment chamber 2 into the output magazine 4, the treatment module 75 is moved into a parked position, which is located at the height of a magazine shaft 80, via which the transport of the laundry items between input magazine 3, treatment chamber 2 and output magazine 4 takes place. In the preceding variants on the other hand, for feeding-in of the laundry item 5, a transfer of the respective treatment module into a parked position lying above was necessary in order to avoid a collision with the laundry item 5.

In the variant according to FIG. 16 the frame 76 of the treatment module 75 is now provided in the z direction both on the front side and also on the rear side with an outlet 80 or 81 in each case, of which the outlet 80 can also be seen in FIG. 15. The outlets 80 and 81 enable the respective hanging facility 6 to be moved past the frame 76 of the treatment module 75 in this case.

Finally, in FIGS. 17 and 18, possible variations of the individual treatment brushes 17 are shown, as can be used as alternatives in each case for the variants described previously. Thus FIG. 17 describes a round brush 82, in which bristles 83 are arranged, starting from a central plane 84 of the round brush 82, inclined away from said plane. What it achieved by the inclination of the bristles 83 is that, during a contact with the laundry item to be treated 5, forces directed at an angle are introduced, as indicated in the lower detailed view. Such an alignment of bristles can in this case in principle also be realized for brush strips.

A round brush 85 is then shown in FIG. 18, which is provided with bristle-like elements 86 in the form of elastic surfaces, which extend in the longitudinal direction over the round brush 85 and during rotation of the round brush 85 each come into contact with the laundry item to be treated 5. These bristle-like elements can in this case also be provided in a similar way in brush strips.

FIGS. 19 and 20 moreover each show a view of a treatment module 87 or 88 in each case, which represent variations of the inventive solution. In the treatment module 87 according to FIG. 19, as a difference, a treatment brush 17 is only provided in this case on one side of the laundry item 5, which is embodied as a rotatable round brush and in concrete terms can be designed according to one or more of the aforementioned variants. Provided on an opposite side of the laundry item 5 to the treatment brush 17 is a fixed-location pressure plate 89, against which the treatment brush 17 presses the laundry item 5 for smoothing of the laundry item 5. As a result the pressure plate 89 serves as a backstop for the treatment brush 17 in the course of the smoothing process. Preferably the pressure plate 89 is embodied with a smooth surface on a side facing towards the treatment brush 17.

A pressure plate 89 is also provided in the treatment module 88 in the variants according to FIG. 20, against which a treatment brush 17 works. What is different from the preceding embodiment according to FIG. 19 in this case is that the pressure plate 89 here is placed in an inner area of the laundry item to be treated 5 however, so that a layer of the laundry item 5 is smoothed between the treatment brush 17 and the pressure plate 89. Especially preferably in this case a further treatment brush is provided on a side of the pressure plate 89 opposite to the treatment brush 17 shown, in order to smooth the other layer of the laundry item accordingly.

By means of the inventive embodiments of a treatment module, when they are used in a laundry treatment device, an optimal smoothing of an introduced laundry item can be carried out.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

1 Laundry treatment device

2 Treatment chamber

3 Input magazine

4 Output magazine

5 Laundry item

6 Hanging facility

7 Treatment module

8 Guide element

9 Guide element

10 Guide

11 Guide

12 Frame

13 Steam head

14 Lines

15 Evaporator

16 Tank

17 Treatment brushes

18 Round brushes

19 Round brushes

20 Round brushes

21 Round brushes

22 Round brushes

23 Round brushes

24 Round brushes

25 Round brushes

26 Round brushes

27 Round brushes

28 Round brushes

29 Round brushes

30 Round brushes

31 Round brushes

32 Round brushes

33 Pair

34 Sleeve

35 Sleeve

36 Chest and stomach area

37 Button-down front

38 Collar area

39 Treatment module

40 Brush strips

41 Pair

42 Treatment module

43 Frame part

44 Frame part

45 Treatment module

46 Frame

47 Treatment module

48 Round brush

49 Round brush

50 Round brush

51 Pair

52 Pair

53 Treatment module

54 Round brushes

55 Round brushes

56 Round brushes

57 Round brushes

58 Treatment module

59 Round brushes

60 Round brushes

61 Round brushes

62 Treatment module

63 Round brushes

64 Round brushes

65 Telescopic bar

66 Frame

67 Treatment module

68 Frame

69 Pair

70 Round brush

71 Round brush

72 Round brush

73 Round brush

74 Round brush

75 Treatment module

76 Frame

77 Round brushes

78 Round brushes

79 Magazine shaft

80 Outlet

81 Outlet

82 Round brush

83 Bristles

84 Central plane

85 Round brush

86 Elements

87 Treatment module

88 Treatment module

89 Pressure plate

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A treatment module for a laundry treatment device, the treatment module comprising: a plurality of treatment brushes each configured for contact with a laundry item to be treated;two of said treatment brushes forming at least one pair and being disposed in a treatment position relative to one another or being able to be disposed in said treatment position;said treatment brushes of said at least one pair lying opposite one another and, upon positioning of a laundry item between said treatment brushes of said at least one pair, each of said treatment brushes of said at least one pair contacting a respective one of two sides of the laundry item.

15. The treatment module according to claim 14, wherein said treatment brushes of said at least one pair are rotatable round brushes.

16. The treatment module according to claim 14, wherein said treatment brushes of said at least one pair are brush strips.

17. The treatment module according to claim 14, wherein each individual one of said treatment brushes has a central plane and bristles aligned and inclined away from said central plane.

18. The treatment module according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said treatment brushes is a part of two pairs and simultaneously lies opposite another two of said treatment brushes in said treatment position.

19. The treatment module according to claim 14, which further comprises frame parts, said treatment brushes of said at least one pair each being accommodated in a respective one of said frame parts, and said frame parts being configured to be moved for individually positioning said treatment brushes in said treatment position.

20. The treatment module according to claim 14, which further comprises a frame, and telescopic bars having ends each being guided movably in said frame, each of said treatment brushes being disposed on a respective one of said telescopic bars.

21. A laundry treatment device, comprising: a treatment chamber configured to receive a laundry item to be treated; andsaid treatment module according to claim 14 disposed in said treatment chamber;said treatment brushes of said at least one pair in said treatment module each being configured to be brought into contact with a respective one of two sides of a laundry item positioned between said treatment brushes for carrying out a smoothing process.

22. The laundry treatment device according to claim 21, which further comprises a hanging facility configured to introduce the laundry item to be treated into said treatment chamber, said treatment module and said hanging facility being configured to be moved relative to one another in said treatment chamber to organize the smoothing process.

23. The laundry treatment device according to claim 21, wherein said treatment module is movable and is configured to be transferred into a parked position for bringing the laundry item into said treatment chamber and for taking the laundry item out of said treatment chamber.

24. A method for operating a laundry treatment device, the method comprising: providing the laundry treatment device according to claim 21;initially introducing a laundry item to be treated into said treatment chamber of said laundry treatment device; andsubsequently bringing said treatment brushes of said at least one pair in said treatment module, into contact with the laundry item positioned between said treatment brushes for carrying out the smoothing process.

25. The method according to claim 24, which further comprises bringing the laundry item into contact with said treatment brushes at least once over a complete surface or over a respective part of a surface of the laundry item in a course of the smoothing process.

26. The method according to claim 24, which further comprises: providing said treatment brushes of said at least one pair as rotatable round brushes;moving the introduced laundry item and said treatment module relative to one another in a course of the smoothing process; androtating an individual round brush of said treatment module at a speed of rotation corresponding to a rolling motion speed of said round brush at the laundry item in a course of a movement of said treatment module relative to the laundry item.