[0001] The present invention relates to a dryer having a supply unit to supply an additive
like steam into the storing compartment and onto the textiles stored therein during
a drying sequence. It also relates to a method of drying textiles using an additive
supplied to the textiles.
[0002] EP 1 441 060 A1 discloses a tumble dryer having one or two injection units arranged in proximity
of the loading door of the dryer to inject an additive like water steam, a cleaning
detergent, a fragrance or a disinfectant into the drum. It is proposed to reduce,
stop or reverse the air flow through the drum to optimize the efficiency of the injected
additive. For modifying the air flow, a fan is arranged in an air channel supplying
drying air in to the drum, wherein the fan is driven by a motor separate from the
driving motor of the drum and which is independently controlled by a control unit.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a method for drying textiles and a dryer
supplying at least one additive to the textiles, which optimize the effect of the
supplied additives and also the consumption of additives.
[0004] The invention is defined in claims 1 and 12, respectively.
[0005] Particular embodiments are set out in the depended claims.
[0006] According to the method of claim 1 at least one additive is supplied during the drying
sequence or cycle to the textiles loaded into the drying compartment of a dryer. Preferably
the dryer is a tumble dryer. The dryer may be of a condensation type in which the
drying air is circulated in a closed loop or may be of an exhaust type where the drying
air is exhausted to the outside of the dryer. Or it maybe a mixed system as for example
proposed in
DE 103 028 64 A1. The at least one additive is for example supplied to the textiles by either introducing
it into an air channel, directly into the drum or storing compartment, or it is introduced
into the tub surrounding the drum. Introduction into the air or onto the textiles
may be performed by a supply unit producing steam, aerosol, fog, droplets, by sublimation,
or by heating the at least one additive. The additive can also be supplied by a mixture
of these introduction types or using different supply ways adequate for the type of
additive to be applied to the textiles.
[0007] In the method of claim 1, at least one additive supply parameter of at least one
of the additives is modified in dependency of a program selection and/or a textile
characteristic. Thereby it is avoided that the at least one additive is supplied in
a fixed manner and amount during the drying cycle, independent of the actual requirement
for treating the cloths. Due to the dependency of the additive supply on the program
selection and/or the textile characteristic the effect of the additive treatment is
optimized on the one hand and also the consumption of the at least one additive is
reduced. In a program-controlled dryer apparatus preferably the modification is automatically
made by a control unit of the dryer apparatus in accordance with stored program sequences
and sub-sequences.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment the textile characteristic which is used to adjust
the supply parameter(s) is the weight of the textiles to be dried, the type of the
textiles, the degree of soiling or staining and/or the humidity of the textiles, in
particular the starting humidity of the textiles. For example more additive is required
for a high weight of the textiles loaded or a minimal additive amount can be supplied,
if the weight of the textiles is low - i.e. if the drum of the dryer is only minimally
filled. Also the effect of the applied additive on the textiles depends on the type
of textile and/or the time of introduction (e.g. textile temperature). For example
cotton clothes react different from synthetic material. In case the additive treatment
is mainly or completely based on a water steam treatment, the supply of water steam
or droplets may be reduced, if the laundry loaded into the dryer has a high starting
humidity, if for example a low spinning speed has been used in the previous wash cycle
of a washing machine.
[0009] In an embodiment the start humidity of the textiles can be input manually by the
user or it can be detected by a humidity detector of the dryer, if provided therewith.
Alternatively or additionally the weight or start weight of the textiles can be manually
input by the user or can be detected by a weight detector. Both values, the start
humidity of the textiles and the weight, can be used to estimate the dry weight of
the textiles or clothes. For example if wet clothes has been loaded and indicated
by a user selection, the dry weight can be calculated or at least estimated from the
wet weight of the laundry.
[0010] Preferably the type of textiles is considered when adjusting or setting at least
one of the additive supply parameters to be used in the program sequence. The type
is manually selected by an input of the user or it is selected by selecting a program
which is specifically adapted for a predefined type of textiles. If for example a
program "cotton steam-pre ironing" is selected, the cotton-type of textiles is indicated
thereby. Such a selection may also be determined by for example a program called "synthetic
steam pre-ironing" from which a synthetic fabric type is concluded. In a further embodiment
a user selection and program selection may be combined: if for example the program
selection can not be used to determine the textile type, a menu selection point is
activated requesting a textile type selection or input from the user.
[0011] Note that depending on the program selection of the user, the drying cycle may comprise
different drying sub-sequences, like main drying sequence, auxiliary treatment sequence
and/or post treatment sequence, which all or partially can include at least a phase
where at least one of the additives is supplied to the textiles. Then in dependency
of the program selection and/or textile characteristic, at least a portion or all
of these sub-sequences can have a modified supply of the additive. Sub-sequences are
for example a steam treatment phase, a main drying phase, a pre-drying phase, an anti-crease
phase or the like.
[0012] According to an embodiment the additive supply parameter which is modified for the
at least one additive is the total amount, the flow rate and/or other parameters.
An adjustment of the composition of additives can for example be made in dependency
of the selected or derived textile type. When for example a selection has been made
for a program adapted for wool treatment, then chemical treatment additives are excluded
from the composition and preferably only a water-comprising additive is supplied to
the wool textiles. Also if a refreshment program has been selected, a degree of soiling
and/or staining can be indicated by the user and the supply amount of chemically active
additives is increased. Types of additives to be supplied onto the textiles are for
example: water, fragrance additives, disinfectant additive, soiling-resolving additives,
or a combination thereof.
[0013] Reference is made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show:
- Fig. 1
- a scheme of input program selections and program options,
- Fig. 2
- control elements of a dryer, and
- Fig. 3
- a diagram depicting an exemplary program cycle including different sub-sequences of
the drying cycle.
[0014] Fig. 1 shows schematically the selection variety of available programs and program
options to be selected by the user. Mandatory selections (program selection) and option
selections (weight input, start humidity input, final humidity input) are shown. For
running the exemplary dryer 2 of Fig. 2 not all the optional user selections or the
optional detection results have to be implemented. Preferably the weight input is
implemented.since for example the amount of additive to be supplied onto the laundry
crucially depends on the laundry weight. In the following exemplary embodiment all
input types shown in Fig. 1 are described - while keeping in mind that these have
not to be implemented in any case or in any model of the tumble dryer. Some of the
inputs are made prior to the starting of the program cycle (for example the program
selection) while other inputs are made in the starting phase. For example the start
humidity may be determined by a humidity sensor 14 of the dryer 2 when the drying
process has already been started. Preferably the user selections and inputs are made
prior to starting the drying cycle.
[0015] As indicated in Fig. 1 the input of the type of textiles (cotton, synthetics, wool,
silk etc.) is made either by a program selection or manually by the user. If for example
the user selected program is specific for the type of textiles, no separate input
for the type of textiles has to be made by the user. If the program is not destined
for a specific type of textiles, a corresponding input can be optionally requested
from the user.
[0016] The same way the final humidity input for the final humidity of the laundry at the
end of the drying cycle is either predetermined by a corresponding program selection
or can optionally be input by the user. If for example a program is selected including
an "iron aid" or "pre-ironing" then the final humidity of the laundry is higher than
in a program without such iron-specific determination. Optionally the user may add
this option to any of the drying programs by selecting this program option manually.
Selection is made by pressing a button "iron aid" which assists the subsequent ironing
by a higher humidity of the laundry.
[0017] The starting humidity of the laundry may automatically be determined by the humidity
sensor 14 in a starting phase of the drying sequence or may manually be input by the
user. For example the user input has the selections wet, damp or dry. The latter selection
is for example used in combination with a refreshment program.
[0018] The weight of the laundry loaded into the compartment of the dryer 2 can either be
determined by a weight sensor 12 automatically or maybe input by the user. For example
the user input is a weight selection like "high", "medium" and "low". Or it may be
a drum volume input like "full", "half full" and "few pieces". If such load input
by volume is made, the type of textiles can be considered to derive the actual weight
of the laundry (see arrow between inputs 'weight' and 'type' in Fig. 1). Also when
inputting the weight and the start humidity, the dry weight of the textiles can be
deduced by subtracting the expected water weight using the humidity input (see arrow
between inputs 'start humidity' and 'type' in Fig. 1). Of course also the type of
textiles can be considered to calculate the dry weight which in turn is one of the
factors to be included when determining an additive parameter like the amount of additive
to be supplied to the laundry
[0019] Fig. 2 shows principal elements of the tumble dryer 2 in a block diagram. The tumble
dryer 2 is an electronically controlled program dryer, the program being executed
and controlled by a central processing unit 4. The user interface of the dryer comprises
a display section 10 and an input panel 8. The input panel 8 has a program selector
20 for selecting the main program, an indicator section 22 to input for example the
type of textile, the weight and the start humidity, and an option selector 24 to select
for example the "iron aid" and so on. The signals of the weight sensor 12 and the
humidity sensor 14 are transmitted to the CPU for monitoring and controlling the drying
process. Control signals are sent from the CPU 4 to a motor 6 driving the drum and
to an additive injector 16 to inject the additives as for example known from
DE 103 02 864 A1 having a spraying device 31 and a stream generator 33 as described therein.
[0020] An exemplary user interaction with the user interface for the selection and options
shown in Fig. 1 is now described: The display section 10 is a touch screen accepting
user inputs by touching soft buttons displayed on the screen which represent at least
portion of the input panel 8. As soon as the dryer is energized, the principal programs
to be selected by the user are shown on the display and one of these principal programs
is selected. If a type of textiles is not determined by the principal selection, different
types of textiles for selection are displayed. Thereafter a selection for the loaded
volume as described above is shown - thereby implementing an implicit weight selection.
When the weight or load selection has been made, a start button is displayed at the
same time with additional options like start humidity and final humidity option button
as mentioned above. These additional options can be activated by the user or can be
skipped by starting the drying cycle with the start button.
[0021] Table I illustrates an example of a selectable drying program in which auxiliary
program sub-sequences are added to the main drying program sub-sequences according
to the program selection or option selection of the user (see also Fig. 3). Due to
the weight, start humidity and textile type input the duration of the sub-sequences
are adapted, the end humidity of the laundry of the sub-sequences are adapted and
the type and amount of additive to be applied to the laundry (if necessary in this
respective subsequence).
[0022] Fig. 3 shows a time diagram illustrating a principal drying program including the
steam treatment. Optionally a pre-drying is activated due to the selection or detection
that the laundry has a high starting humidity. In this case the high start humidity
is not compatible with the steam treatment which requires a lower degree of humidify
of the laundry for starting the steam treatment. Another option which has been selected
by the user is an anti-crease phase which follows the main drying and prevents the
generation of crinkles in the laundry when it is not immediately removed from the
dryer's drum after finishing the main drying.
[0023] In Fig. 3 the program cycle starts with a ventilation phase in which the start humidity
and the start weight of the laundry are determined by weight sensor 12 and humidity
sensor 14. The ventilation phase is followed by the pre-drying phase during which
the start humidity is reduced. The pre-drying phase is followed by the steam treatment
phase in which an additive is applied to the laundry via the additive injector 16.
The steam treatment phase is followed by the main drying phase in which no additive
is supplied and which dries the laundry to the end humidity value given by the principal
program or to the value modified by the program option selected by the user.
[0024] After the main drying phase the anti-crease phase is started which preserves the
laundry in the state resulting after the main drying phase. An additive is also supplied
during the anti-crease phase in dependency of a weight determination which is indicated
in Fig. 3 as end weight detection. The additive injected in the anti-crease phase
is preferably water only which also maybe used during the steam treatment phase. Preferably
during the steam treatment phase additional additives are injected like a detergent.
[0025] As indicated by the dotted lines, the individual phases may partially overlap each
other. For example the steam treatment phase maybe portion of the pre-drying and/or
the main drying phase. Also cooling down in intermediate phases maybe provided (not
shown), for example before starting the steam treatment or before starting the anti-crease
treatment. Thereby pre-defined temperatures or temperatures ranges are achieved which
also optimize the effects of the additives injected.
[0026] The concept of the invention also provides:
A method of drying textiles in a dryer 2, the drying sequence including the supply
of at least one additive to the textiles, wherein at least one additive supply parameter
is modified in dependency of a program selection and/or textile characteristic.
[0027] Preferably the textile characteristic is the weight of the textiles to be dried,
the type of the textiles, the degree of soiling, the degree of staining and/or the
humidity of the textiles.
[0028] In a further preferred way the humidity of the textiles is a start humidity and/or
an intermediate humidity.
[0029] The start humidity may be manually input by the user or detected by a humidity detector
14 of the dryer 2.
[0030] A further preferred method provides the weight of the textiles being manually input
by the user and/or detected by a weight detector 12 of the dryer 2.
[0031] The type of the textiles may be manually input by the user separately selecting the
type or by selecting a program adapted to the type of textiles.
[0032] The program selection may include at least one of the following selections: a refreshment
program, a cotton steam treatment program, a cotton shirt program, a synthetic program,
a synthetic steam treatment program, a synthetic shirt program, an iron aid program,
a smoothing program, an anti-crease program, a chemical dry program.
[0033] Preferably, the at least one modified additive supply parameter is modified in at
least one of the following sub-sequences of the drying sequence: a steam treatment
phase, a main drying phase, a pre-drying phase, an anti-crease phase.
[0034] The additive supply parameter may include at least one of the following: a total
amount of additive to be supplied, the flow rate of additive supply, the repetition
of additive supply, the duration of supply, the start of supply, the composition of
additives, the selection of additive among at least two additives, a phase of the
drying sequence.
[0035] The additive may be injected as steam or aerosol, in particular the steam being water
steam or mainly comprising water.
[0036] Preferably, the additive comprises or is a refreshment agent.
[0037] The inventive concept further comprises:
A dryer, in particular tumble dryer 2, comprising:
a control unit 4 adapted to control a plurality of program sequences and/or program
options of the sequence;
a control panel 8 for selecting at least one program option and/or program sequence
by the user; and
a supply unit 16 adapted to supply at least one additive to the textiles to be dried
in the dryer 2; wherin the control unit 4 is adapted to control the supply unit 16
in dependency of the at least one selected program sequence and/or a signal transmitted
to the control unit by a weight detector 12 and/or humidity sensor 14.
[0038] The dryer preferably comprises a display unit 10 adapted to display a selection menu
to the user.
[0039] A further preferred embodiment provides the control panel 8 comprising at least one
of the following: a program selector 20, a weight selector 22, a start humidity selector
22, a textile type selector, a iron-aid selector 24, a end humidity selector 24, a
refreshment selector 20, an anti-crease selector 24, a standby selector 24, a dry-cleaning
selector 20.
[0040] The control unit 4 may be adapted to execute a program implementing the method of
any of claims 1 to 11.
Reference Numerals List
[0041]
- 2
- tumble dryer
- 4
- CPU
- 6
- motor
- 8
- input panel
- 10
- display section
- 12
- weight sensor
- 14
- humidity sensor
- 16
- additive injector
- 20
- program selector
- 22
- indicator section
- 24
- option selector
1. Method of drying textiles in a dryer (2), the drying sequence including the supply
of at least one additive to the textiles, wherein at least one additive supply parameter
is modified in dependency of a program selection and/or textile characteristic;
characterized in that
the additive is injected as steam, in particular the steam being water steam or mainly
comprising water; and
the at least one additive supply parameter is modified in dependency of the weight
of the textiles.
2. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the additive supply parameter includes
at least one of the following: a total amount of additive to be supplied, the flow
rate of additive supply, the repetition of additive supply, the duration of supply,
the start of supply, the composition of additives, the selection of additive among
at least two additives, a phase of the drying sequence.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight or load of the textiles is manually
input by the user and/or detected by a weight detector (12) of the dryer (2).
4. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the program selection includes at
least one of the following selections: a refreshment program, a cotton steam treatment
program, a cotton shirt program, a synthetic program, a synthetic steam treatment
program, a synthetic shirt program, an iron aid program, a smoothing program, an anti-crease
program, a chemical dry program.
5. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one modified additive
supply parameter is modified in at least one of the following sub-sequences of the
drying sequence: a steam treatment phase, a main drying phase, a pre-drying phase,
an anti-crease phase.
6. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the additive comprises or is a refreshment
agent.
7. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one additive supply
parameter is further modified in dependency of the type of textile, the degree of
soiling, the degree of staining and/or the humidity the textiles, preferably a start
humidity and/or an intermediate humidity of the textiles.
8. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the start humidity is manually input
by the user or detected by a humidity detector (14) of the dryer (2).
9. The method of any of the previous claims, wherein the type of the textiles is manually
input by the user separately selecting the type or by selecting a program adapted
to the type of textiles.
10. Dryer, in particular tumble dryer (2), comprising:
a control unit (4) adapted to control a plurality of program sequences and/or program
options of the sequence;
a control panel (8) for selecting at least one program option and/or program sequence
by the user; and
a supply unit (16) adapted to supply at least one additive to the textiles to be dried
in the dryer (2);
wherein the control unit (4) is adapted to control the supply unit (16) in dependency
of the at least one selected program sequence, wherein at least one additive supply
parameter is modified in dependency of the at least one selected program sequence;
characterized in that
the supply unit (16) is adapted to inject the additive as steam, in particular the
steam being water steam or mainly comprising water; and
the control unit (4) is adapted to modify the at least one additive supply parameter
in dependency of the weight of textiles.
11. The dryer of any of claims 10, further comprising a weight detector (12) adapted to
transmit a signal to the control unit (4).
12. The dryer of claim 10 or 11, wherein the control unit (4) is adapted to further modify
the at least one additive supply parameter in dependency of a start humidity and/or
an intermediate humidity of the textiles detected by a humidity sensor (14), wherein
the humidity sensor is adapted to transmit a signal to the control unit (4).
13. The dryer of any of claims 10 to 12, comprising a display unit (10) adapted to display
a selection menu to the user.
14. The dryer of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the control panel (8) comprises at least
one of the following: a program selector (20), a weight or load selector (22), a start
humidity selector (22), a textile type selector, a iron-aid selector (24), a end humidity
selector (24), a refreshment selector (20), an anti-crease selector (24), a standby
selector (24), a dry-cleaning selector (20).
15. The dryer of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the control unit (4) is adapted to execute
a program implementing the method of any of claims 1 to 9.