[0001] The invention relates to a household appliance including a housing, a processing
chamber for receiving items to be processed, a process air conditioner configured
for providing a process air flow conditioned for processing the items, a process air
guide for guiding the process air flow between said process air conditioner and said
processing chamber, and a control unit for controlling operation of said household
appliance; said processing chamber, said process air conditioner, said process air
guide, and said control unit, disposed in said housing; said process air guide including
at least one duct connected between said process air conditioner and said processing
chamber and disposed in said housing; and said control unit configured to selectively
execute at least two operational processes for processing the items, said at least
two operational processes comprising a first operational process which includes guiding
the process air flow through said process air guide, and a second operational process
which excludes guiding the process air flow through said process air guide.
[0002] Document
EP 1 411 163 A2 applies flexible connection members or bellows for connecting between a swinging
tub and an immovable heat pump in a household appliance for washing and drying laundry
or washer-dryer. These bellows are made of easily deformable material , and are not
dedicated to being deflated and inflated in operation but remain constantly open even
under deformation as the tub swings relative to the heat pump during washing, dewatering,
or drying laundry placed in the tub.
[0003] Document
EP 2 843 111 A1 discloses a flexible hose connecting a tub to a heat pump in an immovable top of
a washer-dryer, the hose being collapsible or extendible to an extent. Again, the
hose is not dedicated to being deflated and inflated in operation but remains constantly
open even under deformation as the tub swings relative to the heat pump during washing,
dewatering, or drying laundry placed in the tub. Deflating the hose for any purpose
is neither provided for on any purpose nor necessary for proper operation.
[0004] Document
GB 887,747 A discloses a collapsible exhaust air hose for use with a vented dryer, the hose having
a nozzle at its distal end to provide for in internal pressure above the ambient pressure.
When in use the hose is inflated by exhaust air passing through, whereas it may be
easily stowed when not in use.
[0005] Document
WO 2012/144775 A2 discloses a laundry washing appliance including an air exhaust pipe provided for
connecting an air passageway applicable for drying laundry to the appliance's ambient,
the air passageway fixed to a swinging tub, and the exhaust pipe corrugated for preventing
transmission of vibration to a rear panel of the appliance's housing where the exhaust
pipe opens to the ambient. The exhaust pipe is made from easily deformable material
and appropriately shaped so as to allow for deformation as the tub swings. Again,
the exhaust is not dedicated to being deflated and inflated in operation but remains
constantly open even under deformation as the tub swings relative to the heat pump
during washing, dewatering, or drying laundry placed in the tub. Deflating the hose
for any purpose is neither provided for on any purpose nor necessary for proper operation.
[0006] In the present context a household appliance is an appliance determined for use in
operating a private household to attain a specific and predetermined material purpose,
particularly by specifically processing items of concern in a household and disposed
in a processing chamber in the household appliance. Examples of a household appliance
are a laundry care appliance, a dishwasher, a cooling appliance such as a refrigerator
and a freezer, a food processing appliance such as an oven for preparing items of
food and a water heater, a mobile heating appliance, and a climate control appliance.
Specifically a laundry care appliance is a household appliance determined for providing
laundry care by washing and/or drying such as a washing machine, a laundry dryer,
and a washer-dryer.
[0007] A household appliance determined for processing items by a conditioned process air
flow requires considerable space for the process air conditioner and the process air
guide required for guiding the process air to the items to be processed. A processing
chamber for containing the items may have to be allowed to swing within the household
appliance's housing in response to periodic forces and moments such as appear when
spinning items of laundry to be processed in a rotating drum for the purpose of washing,
rinsing or extracting process liquids. If such household appliance is in addition
equipped with a system for processing items of laundry by process air such as on purpose
of drying, allocation of sufficient space for all components required in the machine
may become difficult.
[0008] Accordingly there is a need for a household appliance wherein allocation of space
for various functions and related components may adapt to requirements of specific
functions, specifically the function of processing items by a process air flow.
[0009] Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a household appliance as defined
in the initial paragraph above which allows for adaptive space allocation for specific
functions, specifically the function of processing items by a process air flow.
[0010] On purpose of solving this object the present invention provides a household appliance
of the generic type as defined in the generic part of the independent claim attached
which also includes the features of the characterizing part of said independent claim.
[0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims attached as
well as in the subsequent disclosure. Such preferred embodiments may also be applied
in mutual combinations insofar as possible under technical considerations to any extent,
even if not specified herein explicitly.
[0012] Accordingly the present invention provides, as a solution to the problem as defined
above, a household appliance including a housing, a processing chamber for receiving
items to be processed, a process air conditioner configured for providing a process
air flow conditioned for processing the items, a process air guide for guiding the
process air flow between said process air conditioner and said processing chamber,
and a control unit for controlling operation of said household appliance; said processing
chamber, said process air conditioner, said process air guide, and said control unit,
disposed in said housing; said process air guide including at least one duct connected
between said process air conditioner and said processing chamber and disposed in said
housing; and said control unit configured to selectively execute at least two operational
processes for processing the items, said at least two operational processes comprising
a first operational process which includes guiding the process air flow through said
process air guide, and a second operational process which excludes guiding the process
air flow through said process air guide. Further said at least one duct is inflatable
and deflatable; and flow control means are disposed in said process air guide and
configured for inflating said at least one duct during said first operational process,
and for deflating said at least one duct during said second operational process.
[0013] Advantages of the invention include that at least part of the process air guide may
be inflated on purpose of applying it to its predetermined service, and deflated if
not actually used. Absent actual use the deflatable duct or ducts may be reduced in
size and thus set aside, releasing space for use by any other process provided for
execution in the household appliance.
[0014] Principally the invention may be applied to any household appliance. In particular
the household appliance may be a laundry care machine such as a laundry dryer or a
washer-dryer, or a dishwasher, all eventually equipped with a heat pump for a purpose
such as drying pieces of laundry or other respective items.
[0015] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention said flow control means
comprise at least one process air blower disposed in said process air guide and configured
for driving the process air flow through said process air guide. Inflating the at
least one duct will require to establish a pressure therein which is at least slightly
above the pressure of the duct's ambient within the housing. This may be accomplished
by raising a static pressure within the process air guide above the ambient pressure,
as may be accomplished by a blower which provides such pressurization. It may also
be accomplished by properly designing the dynamical pressure within the process air
guide, ascertaining that during operation the local pressure within any inflatable
duct is greater than its ambient pressure.
[0016] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention said flow control
means comprise at least one pressure balancer connecting said process air guide to
an ambient of said process air guide. Thereby the pressure balancer may be applied
at a point of lowest dynamic pressure within the process air guide, whereby it is
ascertained that the dynamic pressure within the process air guide is above the ambient
pressure at every other point within, including any inflatable duct. Certainly, in
case of a process air guide substantially closed in itself the pressure balancer may
be embodied to be equipped with a small blower for raising the pressure within the
process air guide above the ambient pressure. However, it is more preferred if the
at least one pressure balancer merely includes an open connection between said process
air guide and said ambient for simplicity.
[0017] In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention said process air
guide includes flow control means configured for keeping said process air guide essentially
closed in itself during said first operational process.
[0018] In accordance with an alternatively preferred embodiment of the invention said process
air guide includes flow control means configured for keeping said process air guide
essentially open to said ambient during said first operational process. In such context,
ascertaining a dynamic pressure within the process air guide may require no more than
placing a blower for driving the process air upstream of every inflatable duct, to
have it properly inflated as soon as the process air flow is established.
[0019] In accordance with another alternatively preferred embodiment of the invention said
flow control means are configured for keeping said process air guide in exchange of
air with said ambient during said first operational process, thereby having the process
air guide partly open and partly closed.
[0020] In accordance with an additional preferred embodiment of the invention said flow
control means comprise at least one throttle disposed in said process air guide. A
throttle is a means which will provide a dynamic pressure drop across itself upon
being traversed by the process air flow, thereby establishing a relatively high pressure
upstream of itself. Thus a throttle placed at a downstream end of an inflatable duct
may be applied to ascertain sufficiently high dynamic pressure within the duct.
[0021] In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the invention said at least
one duct comprises a first duct and a second duct, wherein said first duct, said processing
chamber and said second duct are connected in sequence to each other. Thereby the
processing chamber may be mechanically decoupled from parts of the process air guide
which eventually include the process air conditioner, allowing a rather free movement
of the processing chamber within the housing. This is of particular interest in the
case of a household appliance embodied as a washer-dryer wherein the processing chamber
is or includes a tub swingingly suspended within the housing.
[0022] In accordance with yet a further preferred embodiment of the invention said process
air conditioner includes a heat pump for cyclically supplying heat the process air
flow prior to entering said processing chamber and extracting heat from the process
air flow after exiting said processing chamber during said first operational process.
Such heat pump, particularly a heat pump applying the inverse Rankine cycle of cyclically
evaporating and condensing a working fluid such as propane in a closed circuit, is
generally a rather complex system of considerable requirements of space, and may be
difficult to be installed in a household appliance dedicated to laundry care. It may
be preferred to install the heat pump immovably within the housing, and provide ducts
of the process air guide connecting the heat pump to the processing chamber suspended
with freedom to swing in response to inertial forces and moments that are pliable
and deformable enough to adapt to such movements.
[0023] In accordance with yet an additional preferred embodiment of the invention said at
least one duct is made from a deformable material. More preferred said deformable
material is a synthetic rubber, in particular an EPDM, or a thermoplastic elastomer,
in particular a TPU.
[0024] In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the invention said at least
one duct is formed from two rigid profiles connected by a seal and movable relative
to each other for inflating and deflating. More preferred said two profiles are also
connected by an actuator configured for moving said profiles. Even more preferred
said seal is a bellows device. Such embodiments of the invention may serve with an
inflatable duct attached to a swinging tub as in the case of the household appliance
for laundry care. The duct may be installed directly at the tub and inflated as items
in the tub are to be processed by a process air flow. Otherwise the duct may be deflated,
thereby reducing the spatial extension of the tub and allowing extended movement in
reaction to inertial forces and moments as occurring upon de-watering wet laundry
by spinning.
[0025] In accordance with still a further preferred embodiment of the invention said processing
chamber comprises a tub supported swingingly within said housing, and said process
air conditioner is supported immovably within said housing. More preferred, said processing
chamber comprises a drum rotatably disposed in said tub. Even more preferred, means
for inputting a liquid into said processing chamber and means for exiting the liquid
from said processing chamber are provided for use in said second operational process.
Yet more preferred such household appliance is embodied as a laundry care machine
wherein the items to be processed are pieces of laundry. Still more preferred, such
household appliance is embodied as a washer-dryer configured for processing the pieces
of laundry by washing in the second operational process and by drying in the first
operational process.
[0026] In accordance with still an additional preferred embodiment of the invention the
household appliance is embodied as a dishwasher wherein the items to be processed
are dishes and configured for processing the dishes by washing in the second operational
process and by drying in the first operational process. A dishwasher is generally
characterized by providing a processing chamber which as a cabinet for placing dishes
to be cleaned which is relatively large in size. Accordingly implementation of at
least one inflatable duct may assist in properly integrating all necessary components
into the housing, particularly if the process air conditioner includes a heat pump.
[0027] Preferred embodiments of the invention are now explained in detail with reference
to the Figures of the attached drawing. These Figures show and exhibit as follows:
- Fig. 1
- shows a schematic view of a household appliance including two inflatable and deflatable
ducts;
- Fig. 2
- shows a processing chamber embodied to comprise a tub suspended swingingly and including
a rotatable drum for processing items of laundry;
- Fig. 3
- shows a processing chamber embodied as a cabinet fir processing items of dishes;
- Fig. 4
- shows an inflatable duct composed of two mutually movable profiles; and
- Fig. 5
- shows an inflatable duct made from a pliable material.
[0028] As shown in detail in Fig. 1, a household appliance 1 includes housing 2, processing
chamber 3 for receiving items 20, 28 (not in Fig. 1 but see Figs. 2 and 3) to be processed,
process air conditioner 4 configured for providing process air flow 5 conditioned
for processing items 20, 28, process air guide 6 for guiding process air flow 5 between
process air conditioner 4 and processing chamber 3, and control unit 7 for controlling
operation of household appliance 1. Processing chamber 3, process air conditioner
4, process air guide 6, and control unit 7, are all disposed in housing 2.
[0029] Process air guide 6 includes at least one duct 8, 9, that is presently first duct
8 and second duct 9, connected between process air conditioner 4 and processing chamber
3 and disposed in housing 2. First duct 8, processing chamber 3, and second duct 9
are connected in sequence to one another. Control unit 7 is configured to selectively
execute at least two operational processes for processing items 20, 28, said at least
two operational processes comprising a first operational process which includes guiding
the process air flow 5 through said process air guide 6, and a second operational
process which excludes guiding the process air flow 5 through said process air guide
6. Specifically, the first operational process may be a process for drying items 20,
28, by process air flow 5 which is conditioned for the purpose by process air conditioner
4, and the second operational process may be a process for cleaning items 20, 28 in
processing chamber 3 by other means.
[0030] Presently each of first duct 8 and second duct 9 is inflatable and deflatable, and
flow control means 10, 11, 12 are disposed in process air guide 6 and configured for
inflating ducts 8, 9 during said first operational process, and for deflating ducts
8, 9 during said second operational process. Thereby at least part of process air
guide 6 may be inflated on purpose of applying it to its predetermined service, and
deflated if not actually used. Absent actual use ducts 8 and 9 may be reduced in size
and thus set aside, releasing space for use by any other process provided for execution
in household appliance 1.
[0031] Specifically flow control means 10, 11, 12 comprise at least one process air blower
10 disposed in process air guide 6 and configured for driving process air flow 5 through
process air guide 6. Inflating ducts 8 and 9 will require establishing a pressure
therein which is at least slightly above the pressure of the ducts' ambient within
housing 2. This may be accomplished by raising a static pressure within process air
guide 6 above the ambient pressure, as may be accomplished by a blower which provides
such pressurization. It may also be accomplished by properly designing the dynamical
pressure within process air guide 6, ascertaining that during operation the local
pressure within each inflatable duct 8, 9 is greater than its ambient pressure.
[0032] Flow control means 10, 11, 12 may comprise at least one pressure balancer 11 connecting
process air guide 6 to an ambient of process air guide 6, which in the present case
is the inside of housing 2. Of course this inside may be connected to the ambient
outside of household appliance 1 in accordance with common practice. The main purpose
of pressure balancer 11 is to ascertain proper inflation of ducts 8 and 9, which will
be the case as during operation of process air flow 5 the pressure inside ducts 8
and 9 is larger than the ambient pressure within housing 2.
[0033] In the simplest case as shown in Fig. 1 pressure balancer 11 may be just an open
connection between process air guide 6 into the ambient, thereby establishing the
ambient pressure to occur within process air guide 6 at a location downstream of ducts
8 and 9, thereby implying that the pressure within ducts 8 and 9 must be above the
ambient pressure and keep ducts 8 and 9 properly inflated. If the simplest solution
cannot be applied it may be considered to place a second blower into pressure balancer
11, and operate this second blower to inflate process air guide 6 with ducts 8 and
9 to a pressure slightly above the ambient pressure prior to operating process air
flow 5.
[0034] Solutions outlined in the preceding chapter may be particularly preferred as process
air guide 6 with flow control means 10, 11, 12 is configured for keeping process air
guide 6 essentially closed in itself during said first operational process. The presence
of an open connection 11 does not preclude having process air guide 6 essentially
closed in itself, with process air flow 5 circulating without any considerable exchange
with ambient air. In such context exchange of air caused by unavoidable leakage through
any necessary seal should not be considerable.
[0035] Yet, process air guide 6 with flow control means 10, 11, 12 may alternatively be
configured for keeping said process air guide 6 essentially open to the ambient during
said first operational process. In such case pressures above the ambient pressure
may be ascertained in ducts 8 and 9 just by having process air blower 10 placed upstream
of inflatable ducts 8 and 9.
[0036] Another alternative of design of process air guide may be an intermediate of the
two designs just described, with process air guide 6 and flow control means 10, 11,
12 configured for keeping said process air guide 6 in exchange of air with said ambient
during said first operational process, so as to have process air flow 5 circulate
in part only.
[0037] Another flow control means 10, 11, 12 may be considered for application in household
appliance 1, namely a throttle 12, or at least one throttle 12, disposed in process
air guide 6. Such throttle 12 may be applied to establish a drop of dynamic pressure
within process air guide 6 as process air flow 5 is operated and thereby elevate pressure
within process air guide 6 upstream of throttle 12. This may by utilized in providing
internal pressure for properly inflating ducts 8 and 9. Presently throttle 12 is embodied
as a lint filter 12 dedicated to catching small fibres and particulates released by
process air flow 5 from the items to be processed which may be pieces of laundry being
tumbled for drying, and not to be allowed to enter process air conditioner 4.
[0038] In the presently exhibited embodiment process air conditioner 4 includes a heat pump
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 for cyclically supplying heat to process air flow 5 prior
to entering said processing chamber 3 and extracting heat from the process air flow
5 after exiting said processing chamber 3 during said first operational process. The
heat pump shown applies the inverse Rankine cycle by cyclically evaporating, compressing,
and condensing, a working medium which may be designated to be a refrigerant according
to common practice, and may be propane in the present example. The heat pump includes
heat source 13, heat sink 14, condensate collector 15, working medium guide 16, compressor
17, restrictor 18, and sensor 19. Process air flow 5 having traversed processing chamber
3 traverses first throttle or lint filter 12 and then heat sink 14 for being cooled
so as to bring humidity carried by process air flow 5 to condensation. Condensate
thus formed is removed from process air flow 5 by precipitation and collected in condensate
collector 15. Process air flow 5 then traverses heat source 13 for being heated and
reached fist process air blower 10 to be impelled and then again processing chamber
3. The process thus defined may serve to dry items to be processed in processing chamber
3. The working medium circulating in working medium guide 16 in a closed circuit emerges
from heat sink 14 in evaporated state and is compressed by compressor 17 to reach
heat source 13. In heat source 13 the working medium releases heat to process air
flow 5 and thereby condenses to a liquid. The liquid working medium then traverses
restrictor 18 which acts as a throttle for reducing its internal pressure, whereby
the working medium partly evaporates. The working medium then reaches heat sink 14
again, where it fully evaporates by absorbing heat from process air flow 5 and completing
its cycle. Sensor 19 may be understood as a representative for any means applied for
controlling operation of the heat pump by control unit 7.
[0039] As shown in Fig. 2 which exhibits an example of processing chamber 3 in household
appliance 1 of Fig. 1, processing chamber 3 may comprise a tub 21 supported swingingly
within housing 2 by schematically shown support means 22 which may include springs
and dampers, and process air conditioner 4 may be supported immovably within housing
2. Processing chamber 3 also comprises a drum 23 rotatably disposed in said tub 21.
Further, means 26 for inputting a liquid into processing chamber 3 and means 27 for
exiting the liquid from processing chamber 3 are provided for use in said second operational
process. Thereby household appliance 1 is embodied as a laundry care machine wherein
the items to be processed are pieces of laundry 20. Thereby household appliance 1
is embodied as a washer-dryer configured for processing the pieces of laundry 20 by
washing in the second operational process and by drying in the first operational process.
[0040] As shown in Fig. 3 which exhibits another example of processing chamber 3 in of Fig.
1, household appliance 1 may be embodied as a dishwasher wherein processing chamber
3 includes a cabinet 29 for placing items to be processed which are dishes 28 on a
rack 30, and a spraying arm 31 provided for spraying washing liquid or water onto
dishes 28. The dishwasher is configured for processing the dishes 28 by washing in
the second operational process and by drying in the first operational process.
[0041] Fig. 4 exhibits an example of an inflatable and deflatable duct 8. Accordingly duct
8 is composed of two rigid profiles 32 and 33 which together form duct 8. First profile
32 may be a section of a tub 21 as shown in Fig. 2, where the U-shape of profile 32
may be defined by enforcement ribs in an outer structure of tub 21. Rigid profile
33 is another U-shaped profile fitting into profile 32 to compose a channel of substantially
rectangular cross-section. Profiles 32 and 33 are connected by a seal 34 embodied
as a bellows device 34 and are movable relative to each other for inflating and deflating.
Profiles 32, 33 are also connected by an actuator 35 configured for moving said profiles
32 33 for varying the channel that they define, thereby inflating and deflating duct
8. Such inflatable duct 8 attached to swinging tub 21 as in Fig. 2 is integrated directly
into the structure of tub 21 to be inflated as items in the tub 21 are to be processed
by process air flow 5, and deflated otherwise. Thereby the spatial extension of tub
21 may be reduced as duct 8 is not required for an operational process, allowing extended
movement in reaction to inertial forces and moments as occurring upon de-watering
wet laundry by spinning.
[0042] Fig. 5 exhibits an example of an inflatable and deflatable duct 8. Accordingly duct
8 is made from a deformable material, for example by injection moulding or extruding,
wherein the deformable material may be a synthetic rubber, in particular an EPDM,
or a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular a TPU. Duct 8 includes a duct body 36
which is pliable and may be inflated or deflated, and duct collars 37 which may be
applied to fasten duct 8 to other components of household appliance 1 such as processing
chamber 3 and process air conditioner 4, for example by clamping to appropriately
fashioned ports. Duct 8 made from deformable material is particularly preferred because
it may adapt to available space, and may also adapt to movements of a component swingingly
suspended in housing 2 and swinging in response to inertial forces and moments generated
during operation.
[0043] Advantages of the invention include that at least part of process air guide 6 may
be inflated on purpose of applying it to its predetermined service, and deflated if
not actually used. Absent actual use the deflatable duct 8, 9 or ducts 8 and 9 may
be reduced in size and thus set aside, releasing space for use by any other process
provided for execution in household appliance 1.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0044]
- 1
- Household appliance
- 2
- Housing
- 3
- Processing chamber
- 4
- Process air conditioner
- 5
- Process air flow
- 6
- Process air guide
- 7
- Control unit
- 8
- First inflatable/deflatable duct
- 9
- Second inflatable/deflatable duct
- 10
- Flow control means, process air blower
- 11
- Flow control means, pressure balancer, open connection
- 12
- Flow control means, throttle
- 13
- Heat pump, heat source
- 14
- Heat pump, heat sink
- 15
- Heat pump, condensate collector
- 16
- Heat pump, working fluide guide
- 17
- Heat pump, compressor
- 18
- Heat pump, restrictor
- 19
- Heat pump, sensor
- 20
- Item to be processed, piece of laundry
- 21
- Tub
- 22
- Support means
- 23
- Drum
- 24
- Direction of rotation
- 25
- Paddle
- 26
- Means for inputting liquid
- 27
- Means for exiting liquid
- 28
- Item tobe processed, dish
- 29
- Cabinet
- 30
- Rack
- 31
- Spraying arm
- 32
- First profile
- 33
- Second profile
- 34
- Seal
- 35
- Actuator
- 36
- Duct body
- 37
- Duct collar
1. A household appliance (1) including a housing (2), a processing chamber (3) for receiving
items (20, 28) to be processed, a process air conditioner (4) configured for providing
a process air flow (5) conditioned for processing the items (20, 28), a process air
guide (6) for guiding the process air flow (5) between said process air conditioner
(4) and said processing chamber (3), and a control unit (7) for controlling operation
of said household appliance (1);
said processing chamber (3), said process air conditioner (4), said process air guide
(6), and said control unit (7), disposed in said housing (2);
said process air guide (6) including at least one duct (8, 9) connected between said
process air conditioner (4) and said processing chamber (3) and disposed in said housing
(2); and
said control unit (7) configured to selectively execute at least two operational processes
for processing the items (20, 28), said at least two operational processes comprising
a first operational process which includes guiding the process air flow (5) through
said process air guide (6), and a second operational process which excludes guiding
the process air flow (5) through said process air guide (6); characterized in that
said at least one duct (8, 9) is inflatable and deflatable; and
flow control means (10, 11, 12) are disposed in said process air guide (6) and configured
for inflating said at least one duct (8, 9) during said first operational process,
and for deflating said at least one duct (8, 9) during said second operational process.
2. The household appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein said flow control means
(10, 11, 12) comprise at least one process air blower (10) disposed in said process
air guide (6) and configured for driving the process air flow (5) through said process
air guide (6).
3. The household appliance (1) according to claim 2, wherein said flow control means
(10, 11, 12) comprise at least one pressure balancer (11) connecting said process
air guide (6) to an ambient of said process air guide (6).
4. The household appliance (1) according to claim 3, wherein said at least one pressure
balancer (11) includes an open connection (11) between said process air guide (6)
and said ambient.
5. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
process air guide (6) includes flow control means (10, 11, 12) configured for keeping
said process air guide (6) essentially closed in itself during said first operational
process.
6. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
process air guide (6) includes flow control means (10, 11, 12) configured for keeping
said process air guide (6) essentially open to said ambient during said first operational
process.
7. The household appliance (1) according to claim 6, wherein said flow control means
(10, 11, 12) are configured for keeping said process air guide (6) in exchange of
air with said ambient during said first operational process.
8. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
flow control means (10, 11, 12) comprise at least one throttle (12) disposed in said
process air guide (6).
9. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
at least one duct (8, 9) comprises a first duct (8) and a second duct (9), wherein
said first duct (8), said processing chamber (3) and said second duct (9) are connected
in sequence to each other.
10. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
process air conditioner (4) includes a heat pump (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) for
cyclically supplying heat to the process air flow (5) prior to entering said processing
chamber (3) and extracting heat from the process air flow (5) after exiting said processing
chamber (3) during said first operational process.
11. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
at least one duct (8, 9) is made from a deformable material.
12. The household appliance (1) according to claim 11, wherein said deformable material
is a synthetic rubber, in particular an EPDM, or a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular
a TPU.
13. The household appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said at least
one duct (8, 9) is formed from two rigid profiles (32, 33) connected by a seal (34)
and movable relative to each other for inflating and deflating.
14. The household appliance (1) according to claim 13, wherein said two profiles (32,
33) are also connected by an actuator (35) configured for moving said profiles (32,
33).
15. The household appliance (1) according to one of claims 13 and 14, wherein said seal
(34) is a bellows device.
16. The household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
processing chamber (3) comprises a tub (21) supported swingingly within said housing
(2), and said process air conditioner (4) is supported immovably within said housing
(2).
17. The household appliance (1) according to claim 16, wherein said processing chamber
(3) comprises a drum (22) rotatably disposed in said tub (21).
18. The household appliance (1) according to one of claims 16 and 17, wherein means for
inputting a liquid (26) into said processing chamber (3) and means for exiting the
liquid (27) from said processing chamber (3) are provided for use in said second operational
process.
19. The household appliance (1) according to claim 18 which is embodied as a laundry care
machine wherein the items to be processed are pieces of laundry (20).
20. The household appliance (1) according to claim 19 which is embodied as a washer-dryer
configured for processing the pieces of laundry (20) by washing in the second operational
process and by drying in the first operational process.
21. The household appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15 which is embodied as
a dishwasher wherein the items to be processed are dishes (28) and configured for
processing the dishes (28) by washing in the second operational process and by drying
in the first operational process.