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(11) | EP 2 050 858 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Front-loading washing machine Waschmaschine mit Fronteinschub Machine à laver à chargement frontal |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a front-loading washing machine (e.g. see document EP-A2-1445368).
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a front-loading washing machine of the type comprising a casing; a drum mounted for rotation inside the casing and accessible from the outside by a door mounted in a front wall of the casing; and a metering device, in turn comprising a detergent tank, and a pump for feeding a given quantity of detergent into the drum.
[0003] The pump is normally housed inside the casing, and the tank is mounted outside the casing and connected to the pump by a feed line.
[0004] Known front-loading washing machines of the above type have several drawbacks, mainly due to the relatively long time and the serious difficulties involved in installing the machine, on account of the tank being assembled outside the casing and connected to the pump.
[0005] Another drawback of known front-loading washing machines of the above type lies in the detergent feed line from the tank to the pump extending outside the casing, and so being exposed to damage and/or tampering, even involuntarily, by the user of the machine.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a front-loading washing machine designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which is also cheap and easy to produce.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a front-loading washing machine as claimed in the accompanying Claims.
[0008] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a preferred embodiment of the front-loading washing machine according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the Figure 1 washing machine;
Figure 3 shows a schematic view in perspective of a detail of the Figure 1 and 2 washing machine.
[0009] Number 1 in Figures 1 and 2 indicates as a whole a front-loading washing machine comprising a substantially parallelepiped-shaped casing 2, in turn comprising a substantially vertical front wall 3 and rear wall 4 opposite each other; a substantially horizontal bottom wall 5 and top wall 6 opposite each other; and two substantially vertical, opposite lateral walls 7.
[0010] Wall 3 has an opening 8 for access to a substantially cylindrical drum 9, which is mounted inside casing 2 to rotate about a respective longitudinal axis 10 with respect to casing 2 and under the control of a known actuating device not shown, and is bounded laterally by a perforated cylindrical wall 11.
[0011] In the Figure 1 and 2 example, drum 9 is mounted with its longitudinal axis 10 substantially parallel to the laundry loading direction of drum 9, and is therefore open axially, at least at the end facing wall 3.
[0012] In a variation not shown, drum 9 is mounted with its longitudinal axis 10 substantially crosswise to the laundry loading direction of drum 9.
[0013] Opening 8 cooperates with a known bellows 12 extending about axis 10, and is closed by a door 13 forming part of front wall 3 and fitted to casing 2 to rotate, with respect to casing 2 and about a substantially vertical hinge axis 14 crosswise to axis 10, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing opening 8 respectively.
[0014] In a variation not shown, door 13 is fitted to casing 2 to slide laterally, up, or down with respect to opening 8.
[0015] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, washing machine 1 also comprises a metering device 15, which is housed inside a seat 16 formed, in the example shown, in the inner surface of door 13, and in turn comprises a substantially rectangular tank 17 having two top anchoring brackets 18 which engage respective holes 19 formed through a wider top portion 20 of door 13.
[0016] In the example shown, tank 17 comprises three substantially parallel compartments 21, each of which contains a detergent, e.g. washing powder, softener or bleach, has a top fill opening 22, and is connected to the intake of a respective feed pump 23 fitted in the bottom of tank 17, beneath respective compartment 21, to feed a given amount of the relative detergent through bellows 12 into drum 9.
[0017] The amount of detergent fed by each pump 23 into drum 9 is calculated by an electronic central control unit (not shown) of washing machine 1, as a function of signals from a known first sensor 24 mounted beneath drum 9 to weigh the laundry (not shown) inside drum 9, and from a known second sensor (not shown) for determining the dirt level of the laundry (not shown).
[0018] In variations not shown:
tank 17 is housed in a seat formed in front wall 3 of casing 2, substantially beneath door 13;
tank 17 is hinged to wall 3 or door 13 to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise between an open position and a closed position opening and closing openings 22 respectively;
tank 17 is fitted to wall 3 or door 13 to slide between an open position and a closed position opening and closing openings 22 respectively.
1. A front-loading washing machine comprising a casing (2); a drum (9) mounted inside
the casing (2) to rotate about a respective longitudinal axis (10); and a metering
device (15) comprising a tank (17) for at least one detergent,
the casing (2) comprising a front wall (3) having an opening (8) by which to load the drum (9), and a door (13) for closing the opening (8); and the washing machine being characterized in that the metering device (15) comprises at least one pump (23) for feeding a given amount of detergent into the drum (9), and the front wall (3) has a seat (16) for housing the metering device (15).
the casing (2) comprising a front wall (3) having an opening (8) by which to load the drum (9), and a door (13) for closing the opening (8); and the washing machine being characterized in that the metering device (15) comprises at least one pump (23) for feeding a given amount of detergent into the drum (9), and the front wall (3) has a seat (16) for housing the metering device (15).
2. A washing machine as claimed in Claim 1, and also comprising a first detecting device
(24) for determining the weight of the laundry inside the drum (9); the pump (23)
feeding into the drum (9) an amount of detergent calculated in response to a signal
from the first detecting device (24).
3. A washing machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, and also comprising a second detecting
device for determining the dirt level of the laundry inside the drum (9); the pump
(23) feeding into the drum (9) an amount of detergent calculated in response to a
signal from the second detecting device.
4. A washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, and also comprising
a first and second detecting device for determining the weight and dirt level, respectively,
of the laundry inside the drum (9); the pump (23) feeding into the drum (9) an amount
of detergent calculated in response to a signal from the first and/or second detecting
device.
5. A washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the tank
(17) comprises a number of compartments (21) for respective detergents.
6. A washing machine as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the metering device (15) comprises
a respective said pump (23) for each compartment (21).
7. A washing machine as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein each compartment (21) comprises
a fill opening (22) by which to fill the compartment (21).
8. A washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the longitudinal
axis (10) of the drum (9) is substantially parallel to a laundry loading direction
of the drum (9).
9. A washing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the longitudinal
axis (10) of the drum (9) is substantially crosswise to a laundry loading direction
of the drum (9).
10. A washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the door
(13) is fitted to the casing (2) to rotate between an open position and a closed position
opening and closing the opening (8) respectively.
11. A washing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the door (13) is
fitted to the casing (2) to slide between an open position and a closed position opening
and closing the opening (8) respectively.
12. A washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the tank
(17) is mounted to rotate to and from a fill position of the tank (17).
13. A washing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the tank (17) is
fitted to the front wall (3) to slide to and from a fill position of the tank (17).
14. A washing machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the seat
(16) is formed in the door (13).
15. A washing machine as claimed in many one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the seat (16)
is formed in the front wall (3), substantially beneath the door (13).
1. Von vorn beschickbare Waschmaschine, umfassend ein Gehäuse (2); eine Trommel (9),
die derart im Gehäuse (2) montiert ist, dass sie sich um eine jeweilige Längsachse
(10) dreht; und eine Dosiereinrichtung (15) mit einem Behälter (17) für mindestens
ein Waschmittel, wobei das Gehäuse (2) umfasst: eine Frontwand (3) mit einer Öffnung
(8), durch welche die Trommel (9) beschickt wird, und eine Tür (13) zum Verschließen
der Öffnung (8); wobei die Waschmaschine dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass die Dosiereinrichtung (15) mindestens eine Pumpe (23) zum Einspeisen einer gegebenen
Waschmittelmenge in die Trommel (9) umfasst und die Frontwand (3) einen Sitz (16)
zur Aufnahme der Dosiereinrichtung (15) umfasst.
2. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 1, darüber hinaus umfassend eine erste Detektionsvorrichtung
(24) zum Bestimmen des Gewichts der Wäsche in der Trommel (9); wobei die Pumpe (23)
eine Waschmittelmenge in die Trommel (9) einspeist, die in Abhängigkeit von einem
Signal berechnet wird, das von der ersten Detektionsvorrichtung (24) stammt.
3. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, darüber hinaus umfassend eine zweite Detektionsvorrichtung
zum Bestimmen des Verschmutzungsgrads der Wäsche in der Trommel (9); wobei die Pumpe
(23) eine Waschmittelmenge in die Trommel (9) einspeist, die in Abhängigkeit von einem
Signal berechnet wird, das von der zweiten Detektionsvorrichtung stammt.
4. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, darüber hinaus umfassend eine
erste und zweite Detektionsvorrichtung zum Bestimmen des Gewichts bzw. des Verschmutzungsgrads
der Wäsche in der Trommel (9); wobei die Pumpe (23) eine Waschmittelmenge in die Trommel
(9) einspeist, die in Abhängigkeit von einem Signal berechnet wird, das von der ersten
und/oder zweiten Detektionsvorrichtung stammt.
5. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Behälter (17) eine
Anzahl von Abteilungen (21) für jeweilige Waschmittel umfasst.
6. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Dosiereinrichtung (15) jeweils eine Pumpe
(23) für jede Abteilung (21) umfasst.
7. Waschmaschine nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei jede Abteilung (21) eine Einfüllöffnung
(22) umfasst, durch welche die Abteilung (21) zu befüllen ist.
8. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Längsachse (10) der
Trommel (9) im Wesentlichen parallel zu einer Wäscheeinfüllrichtung der Trommel (9)
ist.
9. Waschmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei die Längsachse (10) der Trommel
(9) im Wesentlichen quer zu einer Wäscheeinfüllrichtung der Trommel (9) ist.
10. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Tür (13) derart am
Gehäuse (2) angebracht ist, dass sie zwischen einer offenen Position und einer geschlossenen
Position rotiert, wodurch sie die Öffnung (8) öffnet bzw. schließt.
11. Waschmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei die Tür (13) derart am Gehäuse
(2) angebracht ist, dass sie zwischen einer offenen Position und einer geschlossenen
Position gleitet, wodurch sie die Öffnung (8) öffnet bzw. schließt.
12. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Behälter (17) derart
montiert ist, dass er sich in eine und aus einer Befüllposition des Behälters (17)
dreht.
13. Waschmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, wobei der Behälter (17) derart an
der Frontwand (3) befestigt ist, dass er in eine und aus einer Befüllposition des
Behälters (17) gleitet.
14. Waschmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Sitz (16) in der
Tür (13) gebildet ist.
15. Waschmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, wobei der Sitz (16) in der Frontwand
(3) im Wesentlichen unterhalb der Tür (13) gebildet ist.
1. Machine à laver à chargement frontal comprenant une carcasse (2); un tambour (9) installé
à l'intérieur de la carcasse (2) pour tourner autour d'un axe longitudinal respectif
(10); et un dispositif de dosage (15) comprenant une cuve (17) pour au moins un détergent,
la carcasse (2) comprenant une paroi avant (3) ayant une ouverture (8) pour le chargement
du tambour (9) et une porte (13) pour fermer l'ouverture (8): et la machine à laver
étant caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de dosage (15) comprend au moins une pompe (23) pour l'amenée d'une
quantité de détergent donnée dans le tambour (9), et la paroi frontale (3) possède
un siège (16) pour loger le dispositif de dosage (15).
2. Machine à laver selon la revendication 1, et comprenant également un premier dispositif
de détection (24) pour déterminer le poids du linge à l'intérieur du tambour (9);
la pompe (23) introduisant dans le tambour (9) une quantité de détergent calculée
en réponse à un signal provenant du premier dispositif de détection (24).
3. Machine à laver selon la revendication 1 ou 2, et comprenant également un deuxième
dispositif de détection pour déterminer le niveau de saletés du linge à l'intérieur
du tambour (9); la pompe (23) introduisant dans le tambour (9) une quantité de détergent
calculée en réponse à un signal provenant du deuxième dispositif de détection.
4. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, et comprenant
également un premier et un deuxième dispositif de détection pour déterminer le poids
et le niveau de saletés, respectivement, du linge à l'intérieur du tambour (9); la
pompe (23) introduisant dans le tambour (9) une quantité de détergent calculée en
réponse à un signal provenant du premier et/ou deuxième dispositif de détection.
5. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la cuve (17) comprend un nombre de compartiments (21) pour des détergents respectifs.
6. Machine à laver selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle le dispositif de dosage (15)
comprend une pompe précitée respective (23) pour chaque compartiment (21).
7. Machine à laver selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans laquelle chaque compartiment (21)
comprend une ouverture de remplissage (22) pour le remplissage du compartiment (21).
8. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
l'axe longitudinal (10) du tambour (9) est sensiblement parallèle à une direction
de chargement de linge du tambour (9).
9. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans laquelle l'axe
longitudinal (10) du tambour (9) est sensiblement perpendiculaire à une direction
de chargement de linge du tambour (9).
10. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la porte (13) est montée sur la carcasse (2) pour tourner entre une position ouverte
et une position fermée ouvrant et fermant l'ouverture (8), respectivement.
11. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans laquelle la
porte (13) est montée sur la carcasse (2) pour glisser entre une position ouverte
et une position fermée ouvrant et fermant l'ouverture (8), respectivement.
12. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la cuve (17) est montée pour tourner vers et depuis une position de remplissage de
la cuve (17).
13. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, dans laquelle la
cuve (17) est montée sur la paroi frontale (3) pour glisser vers et depuis une position
de remplissage de la cuve (17).
14. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
le siège (16) est formé dans la porte (13).
15. Machine à laver selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, dans laquelle le
siège (16) est formé dans la paroi frontale (3), sensiblement en dessous de la porte
(13).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description