Washing device

Abstract

 The washer device (C), made in accordance with the present invention, comprises at least an inner volume (1), wherein the articles to be washed are placed, the washing liquid supplied from at least a liquid source (9) is accumulated and the said articles are washed with the washing liquid; at least a circulation line (4) within which the washing liquid accumulated inside the inner volume (1) is received from at least an outlet (2) provided in the inner volume (1) and returned back to the latter (1), and comprising at least a pump (3) for moving the washing liquid; and at least a heating unit (5) located on the circulation line (4) and comprising at least a staged heater (6) for controlled heating of the washing liquid passing therethrough.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to washer devices that heat the washing liquid therein.

Prior Art

[0002] The washer devices such as washing machines allow cleaning of various articles (e.g. laundry) with the use of at least a cleaning liquid (for example, water, detergent etc.). Such washer devices comprise an inner volume (such as a drum and a boiler of the washing machine) into which the articles to be cleaned are placed; at least a cleaning liquid source (for example, a valve through which mains water is supplied and a detergent drawer); and a drain for removal of the waste cleaning liquid from the washer device. The washer devices may also comprise at least a heating unit that heats the washing liquid for a better cleaning process. In conventional washer devices, the said heating unit is in the form of a resistance, which is for instance interposed between the drum and boiler provided in a washing machine. However, the fact that the heating unit is interposed between the drum and the boiler makes it difficult to access the heating unit when necessary. This results in prolongation of the repair and maintenance process, especially when a problem as to the operation of the heating unit occurs. Moreover, if hard water is used in the washing process, the rotational movement of the drum in the boiler may be prevented due to formation of limescale on the heating unit and the drum/boiler in consequence of high temperature. This, in turn, causes damage of the rotational parts (for example, motor or belt/frame etc.) of the washer device.

[0003] In the prior art patent document No. EP1676948A1, a washing machine comprising a hidden heater is disclosed. In the said washing machine, the heater in the form of a resistance is positioned under the boiler as hidden underneath a plate. Thus, there is prevented interposition of the heating unit between the drum and boiler. In this case, however, there occurs the problem of calcification due to high temperature generated on those parts of the boiler which are close to the heating unit.

Brief Description of the Invention

[0004] The washer device, made in accordance with the present invention, comprises at least an inner volume, wherein the articles to be washed are placed, the washing liquid supplied from at least a liquid source is accumulated and the said articles are washed with the washing liquid; at least a circulation line within which the washing liquid accumulated inside the inner volume is received from at least an outlet provided in the inner volume and returned back to the latter, and comprising at least a pump for moving the washing liquid; and at least a heating unit located on the said circulation line and comprising at least a staged heater for controlled heating of the washing liquid passing therethrough.

[0005] Thanks the fact that the heating unit that heats the washing liquid is located on the circulation line in the washer device of the present invention, there is provided an easier accession to the heating unit when a problem as to the latter occurs. Since the heating unit includes at least a staged heater, a desired number of stages is operated while heating the washing liquid to the desired temperature, which allows a faster and safer heating process as compared to the prior art washer devices.

Object of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a washer device comprising at least a heating unit for heating the washing liquid therein.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a washer device in which an easier accession to the heating unit is possible.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a washer device that is capable of regulating the temperature of the washing liquid therein in a fast and reliable manner.

[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a washer device, wherein the washing performance is increased by continuous heating of the washing liquid at certain stages throughout its operation cycle.

Description of the Drawings

[0010] An embodiment of the washer device according to the present invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a front sectional view of the washer device.

[0011] All the parts illustrated in the drawing are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed as follows:

Washer device	(C)
Inner volume	(1)
Outlet	(2)
Pump	(3)
Circulation line	(4)
Heating unit	(5)
Staged heater	(6)
Boiler	(7)
Drum	(8)
Liquid source	(9)
Drain line	(10)
Chamber	(11)

Description of the Invention

[0012] The washer devices such as washing machines and dish washers comprise at least an inner volume into which the articles to be washed are placed and within which the said articles are washed with at least a washing liquid (for example, water, detergent etc.). In order to increase the washing efficiency, the said washer devices comprise at least a circulation line that receives the washing liquid inside the inner volume from an outlet (which is preferably located at the lower side of the inner volume) of the inner volume and supplies the washing liquid back to the inner volume (preferably through the upper side thereof). With the present invention, there is provided a washer device that heats the washing liquid by means of at least a heating unit located on the said circulation line.

[0013] The washer device (C), made in accordance with the present invention and exemplified in Figure 1 as a washing machine, comprises at least an inner volume (1), wherein the articles to be washed are placed, the washing liquid supplied from at least a liquid source (9) is accumulated and the said articles are washed with the said washing liquid; at least a circulation line (4) within which the washing liquid accumulated inside the inner volume (1) is received from at least an outlet (2) provided in the inner volume (1) and returned back to the latter, and comprising at least a pump (3) for moving the washing liquid; and at least a heating unit (5) located on the said circulation line (4) and comprising at least a staged heater (6) for controlled heating of the washing liquid passing therethrough. The said staged heater (6) is in the form of a heater wherein operation of each stage can be controlled independently. Thus, due to the operation of a desired number of stages of the said staged heater (6), the washing liquid is heated to the desired temperature.

[0014] In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the washing liquid supplied from a liquid source (9) (for example, a valve through which mains water is supplied and a detergent drawer) is transferred to the inner volume (1). The washing liquid accumulated inside the inner volume (1) is received from an outlet (2) which is preferably located at the lower side of the inner volume (1) (which outlet (2) is preferably associated with a drain line (10) for removal of the washing liquid from the washer device (C) at the end of the washing process) by the said circulation line (4) and returned back to the inner volume (1). During this circulation process, the washing liquid is heated to the desired temperature, preferably in a continuous manner, by means of the said heating unit (5). Furthermore, due to continuous heating of the washing liquid, the desired/required temperature of the washing liquid is maintained throughout the operation of the washer device (C), thereby the washing performance of the latter (C) is increased.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said washer device (C) is in the form of a washing machine. In this embodiment, the said inner volume (1) comprises at least a boiler (7) and at least a drum (8). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the said washer device (C) is in the form of a dish washer (not shown) and the inner volume (1) comprises at least a washing tub.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said staged heater (6) is located outside of the heating unit (5). In this embodiment, the staged heater (6) does not directly contact with the washing liquid passing through the heating unit (5). Accordingly, in this embodiment, the heating unit (5) comprises at least a chamber (11), outside of which is located the staged heater (6) and through which the washing liquid is passed and which is preferably made from a material of high heat transmission (e.g. a metal or a metal alloy etc.). Thus, the staged heater (5) heats the said chamber (11), which enables heating of the washing liquid passing through the heated chamber (11).

[0017] Thanks the fact that the heating unit (5) that heats the washing liquid is located on the circulation line (4) in the washer device (C) of the present invention, there is provided an easier access to the heating unit (5) when a problem as to the latter (5) occurs. Since the heating unit (5) includes at least a staged heater (6), a desired number of stages is operated while heating the washing liquid to the desired temperature, which allows a faster and safer heating process as compared to the prior art washers.

Claims

1. A washer device (C) comprising at least an inner volume (1), wherein the articles to be washed are placed, the washing liquid supplied from at least a liquid source (9) is accumulated and the said articles are washed with the washing liquid; at least a circulation line (4) within which the washing liquid accumulated inside the inner volume (1) is received from at least an outlet (2) provided in the inner volume (1) and returned back to the latter (1), and comprising at least a pump (3) for moving the washing liquid, characterized by comprising:

- at least a heating unit (5) located on the said circulation line (4) and comprising at least a staged heater (6) for controlled heating of the washing liquid passing therethrough.

2. A washer device (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that the said staged heater (6) is in the form of a heater wherein operation of each stage is controlled independently.

3. A washer device (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that the said washer (C) is in the form of a washing machine.

4. A washer device (C) according to claim 3, characterized in that the said inner volume (1) comprises at least a boiler (7) and at least a drum (8).

5. A washer device (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that the said washer device (C) is in the form of a dish washer.

6. A washer device (C) according to claim 5, characterized in that the said inner volume (1) comprises at least a washing tub.

7. A washer device (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that the said staged heater (6) is located outside of the heating unit (5).

8. A washer device (C) according to claim 7, characterized in that the said heating unit (5) comprises at least a chamber (11), outside of which is located a staged heater (6) and through which the washing liquid is passed.

9. A washer device (C) according to claim 8, characterized in that the said chamber (11) is made from a material of high heat transmission.

Drawing