The present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine comprising an air-cooled condenser according to the preamble of claim 1. A similar washer-dryer machine is shown in
In laundry washing and drying machines, air-cooled condensers are widely used, that realize the condensation process by using the outer environment air in the drying process after the washing step. Humid air that comes from over the laundry and passes through the processing air channel is condensed in the condenser cooled by means of the outer environment air, thus the air that is dried by being dehumidified is sent again onto the laundry through the processing air channel. Fibers and lint from the laundry fluttering during the drying process accumulate on the condenser. If not cleaned, fibers and lint clog the air passage lines in the condenser and adversely affect the efficiency of the condenser. The condenser and the air channels connected thereto are washed by means of a water spraying device connected to the water mains by means of a valve in order to cleanse them of fibers and lint. The condenser is generally washed at the end of the drying process, since, during the drying of the laundry, most of the fibers and lint adhere onto the condenser towards the end of the drying cycle. A small amount of water such as 3 - 4 liters is used for washing the condenser especially in order to reduce the water consumption; however, when the pressure of water coming from water mains is low, the condenser cannot be properly cleansed of the fibers and lint with a small amount of water with low pressure.
In the European Patent Application No.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry washing and drying machine comprising an air-cooled condenser that is effectively cleansed of the fibers and lint adhering thereon.
The laundry washing and drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim. It comprises a detergent dispenser wherein the chemical cleaning agents are placed, an air-cooled condenser that condenses the processing air and a first valve connected to the water supply (the water mains), providing the water taken from the mains for washing to be delivered to the detergent dispenser and the tub and a second valve again connected to the water supply, that delivers water onto the condenser, providing the fibers and lint adhering onto the condenser to be removed at the end of the drying process.
The control unit may open the second valve while water is being taken from the water supply at the beginning of the laundry washing program and thus some of the water required for the laundry washing program is filled into the tub after washing the air ventilation duct and the condenser.
In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may keep the first valve open for a predetermined period, for example until 5 liters of water is sent in order to flush the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser and opens the second valve after closing the first valve.
In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may open the first valve and the second valve at the same time during the water intake from the water supply, closes the first valve after the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser are flushed and closes the second valve after the tub is filled with the required amount of water.
Preferably, the control unit provides that approximately 10 % of the water needed for the washing of the laundry is filled into the tub from the first valve and through the detergent dispenser, and approximately 90 % from the second valve and through the air ventilation duct - the condenser.
In the laundry washing and drying machine of the present invention, the water taken from the water supply for laundry washing is passed through the condenser, thus providing the fibers and lint adhering onto the condenser to be cleansed with plenty of water even if the mains pressure is low; and an additional condenser washing program is not needed to be applied for cleaning the condenser.
An example of the laundry washing and drying machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
The laundry washing and drying machine 1 shown in
The laundry washing and drying machine 1 furthermore comprises a first valve 11 providing water to be taken from the water supply S at the beginning of the laundry washing program and to be sent to the tub 3 through the detergent dispenser 4 and a second valve 12 providing water to be taken from the water supply S to be sent to the air ventilation duct 5 and the condenser 7 in order that laundry fibers and lint that are carried with the processing air and that adhere to the air ventilation duct 5 and the condenser 7 are removed.
The laundry washing and drying machine 1 comprises the control unit 10 that may open the second valve 12 during the water intake from the water supply S at the beginning of the laundry washing program, thereby providing some of the water first to wash the air ventilation duct 5 and the condenser 7 and then, secondly, to be filled into the tub 3.
In the laundry washing and drying machine 1, during the water intake at the beginning of the laundry washing program, the second valve 12 may be opened by the control unit 10 and consequently wash water passes through the air ventilation duct 5 and the condenser 7 and then is filled into the tub 3. Thus, fibers and lint adhered onto the condenser 7 during the previous washing-drying program are provided to be cleansed with plenty of water.
In a possible embodiment, while water is being taken from the water supply S at the beginning of the laundry washing program, the control unit 10 may keep the first valve 11 open for a predetermined period recorded in its memory for the cleaning agents in the detergent dispenser 4 to be flushed and after closing the first valve 11, opens the second valve 12, thus providing the remainder of the water required for the washing of the laundry to be filled into the tub 3 by following the second valve 12 - air ventilation duct 5 - condenser 7 path. By opening the two valves 11, 12 respectively, the pressure of the water flushing the detergent dispenser 4 by means of the first valve 11 and the pressure of the water cleansing the condenser 7 of fibers and lint by means of the second valve 12 are prevented from decreasing.
In another possible embodiment, the control unit 10 may open the first valve 11 and the second valve 12 at the same time while water is being taken from the water supply S at the beginning of the laundry washing program and keeps the first valve 11 open until the agents in the detergent dispenser 4 are flushed and the second valve 12 open until the amount of water required for the washing of the laundry is filled into the tub 3. In this embodiment, during the water intake from the water mains, at first both valves 11, 12 are kept open, thereby decreasing the time required for water to fill the tub 3.
The control unit 10 regulates the opening/closing durations of the first valve 11 and the second valve 12, thereby providing 10 % of the water required for the laundry washing program to be filled into the tub 3 through the first valve 11 - the detergent dispenser 4 and 90 % thereof through the second valve 12 - the air ventilation duct 5 - the condenser 7.
In the laundry washing and drying machine 1, a separate condenser 7 washing process is not applied for cleansing the air ventilation duct 5 and the condenser 7 of fibers and lint adhering thereon. Fibers and lint adhering onto the condenser 7 are washed away with plenty of water during the water intake at the beginning of the laundry washing program. Even if the pressure of the water supplied from the water mains is low, a successful condenser 7 cleaning is provided and total water consumption is decreased.
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.