[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic washer-drier machine which provides for
washing and drying the laundry.
[0002] Domestic washer-drier machines are known to comprise a support and housing structure,
a washing tank being housed therein, which is provided with a front opening that can
be closed by means of a porthole door that is hinged in front of the housing. Within
the washing tank, a basket is pivotally housed about a horizontal or inclined axis
for the laundry to be accommodated therein to be washed and/or dried. The basket also
defines a front opening that is located such as to match the opening of the washing
tank, in order to load/unload the laundry.
[0003] The washing tank is suitable to contain the washing liquid during the laundry washing
steps, and to be a portion of the drying circuit during the laundry drying step.
[0004] In order to allow loading the tank with mains water and detergent and additive substances,
a washing water delivery system is provided to be connected to the water system. This
washing water delivery system comprises a plurality of electrovalves which are suitable
to selectively adjust the supply to a plurality of flow paths extending downstream
of these electrovalves through respective compartments of a detergent tray to the
washing tank. On the bottom of the washing tank there is provided a drain duct with
a discharge pump being associated thereto, which provides for the removal of the washing
liquid from the tank and controls, together with the supply electrovalves, the liquid
level within the tank. To heat the washing liquid contained within the tank, an electric
resistance is provided, which is arranged within the tank in the gap between the tank
wall and the laundry basket.
[0005] A drying circuit of prior art washer-drier machines, see e.g.
JP 2005 224 621 A, typically comprises a suction unit, a heat exchanger and a heating unit with electric
resistances intercommunicating by means of a drying circuit.
[0006] In such a closed-loop circuit, the air flow generated by the suction unit is heated
by the electric resistances and sent to the basket, where it flows through the wet
laundry thereby causing the water contained in the fabric to evaporate. In the heat
exchanger, which is generally a container separate from the washing tank and provided
with a spray nozzle, the wet air is cooled by a jet of cold water. Due to this cooling,
the vapour condensates and is collected and discharged together with the cooling water.
The de-humidified air is then sucked again by the suction unit and ricirculated.
[0007] The cooling water is usually supplied to the heat exchanger by means of a cooling
duct with a dedicated electrovalve which controls the loading of the mains water in
the heat exchanger (condenser).
[0008] Prior art drying devices, while being satisfactory under many aspects, however, have
a much complicated structure which is due to the presence of the condensation chamber
and three different circuits:
- washing water supply,
- cooling water supply to the heat exchanger,
- drying air circuit,
which also involve a number of hydraulic components.
[0009] The structural complexity of known washer-drier machines and the high consumption
of cooling water during the drying step are some of the causes of the high production
and running costs that are related to this type of appliance.
[0010] The production cost of the washer-drier machines result to be further increased by
the difficulty or impossibility of using the large-scale components that are manufactured
for washing machines.
[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a washer-drier machine
having such characteristics as to overcome at least some of the problems mentioned
with reference to the prior art.
[0013] This and other objects are achieved by means of a washer-drier machine according
to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims.
[0014] According to the invention, the washer-drier machine comprises:
- a laundry basket being supported within a washing tank suitable to contain the washing
liquid;
- a drying circuit comprising a tubular suction duct,
wherein:
- the suction duct is formed of a wall portion of the washing tank and a lid, which
is manufactured separately and then connected to the wall portion.
[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the lid comprises a system of cavities
that are suitable to contain the cooling water, namely a cooling coil that can be
supplied with mains water such that the lid forms a condensation wall.
[0016] As the suction duct is formed by the tank wall and by a lid that is manufactured
separately and then connected to the tank wall, the same washing tank (with and without
lid, respectively) can be used both for manufacturing washing machines and for manufacturing
washer-drier machines.
[0017] Furthermore, by providing the lid with a system of cavities to contain the cooling
water, the traditional atmospheric condenser separated from the tank can be eliminated
and the overall structure of the washer-drier machine can be simplified.
[0018] Since the cooling water volume is maintained within the lid coil, a continuous use
of a same water volume will be allowed until the latter reaches an upper threshold
temperature for condensation purposes. This results in a considerable saving of cooling
water during the drying step.
[0019] In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the system of cavities,
i.e. the lid cooling coil, is arranged in the washing water supply path, preferably
in series between the supply electrovalve and a detergent tray and can be supplied
by means of the same washing water supply circuit.
[0020] This allows the elimination of a dedicated supply circuit for supplying the condenser
as well as a simplification of the control programs driving the supply electrovalves.
[0021] In order to better understand the invention and appreciate the advantages thereof,
several embodiments thereof will be described below by way of non-limiting examples,
with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a washer-drier machine ;
- Fig. 2 is a front sectional view of the washer-drier machine in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of washer-drier machine according to an embodiment
of the invention;
- Fig. 4 is a front sectional view of the washer-drier machine in Fig. 3;
- Fig. 5 is a partially sectional top view of the washer-drier machine in Fig. 3;
[0022] With reference to the figures, a washer-drier machine 1 comprises a support and housing
structure 2, a washing tank 3 being housed therein, which is provided with a front
opening that can be closed by means of a porthole door 4 being hinged in the front
of the housing 2. Within the washing tank 3, a basket 5 is pivotally housed about
a horizontal or inclined axis, for the laundry to be accommodated therein to be washed
and/or dried. The basket 5 also defines a front opening that is located such as to
match the opening of the washing tank 3, in order to load/unload the laundry.
[0023] The washing tank 3 is suitable to contain the washing liquid during the laundry washing
steps, and to be a portion of the drying circuit during the laundry drying step.
[0024] In order to allow loading the tank 3 with mains water and detergent and additive
substances, a washing water delivery system is provided to be connected to the water
system. This washing water delivery system comprises a plurality of washing flow paths
extending from, for example, two supply electrovalves 6, 7, through corresponding
compartments 8, 9, 10 of a detergent tray 12, to the washing tank 3.
[0025] On the bottom 13 of the washing tank 3, there is provided a drain duct 14 with a
discharge pump 15 being associated thereto, which provides for the removal of the
washing liquid from the tank 3 and controls, together with the supply electrovalves
6, 7 the level of liquid within the tank 3.
[0026] To heat the washing liquid contained within the tank 3, a coiled electric resistance
11 is provided, which is arranged within the tank 3, particularly on the bottom 13
of the latter, in the gap between the tank wall 3 and the laundry basket 5.
[0027] The washer-drier machine 1 further comprises a closed-loop drying circuit with a
suction unit, for example an fan impeller 17 driven by an electric motor 18, a heat
exchanger as well as a heating unit with electric resistance 21, which communicate
with each other by means of a drying circuit 16.
[0028] In such a closed-loop circuit, the air flow 22 generated by the suction unit 17,
18 is heated by the electric resistance 21 and sent to the basket 5, where it flows
through the wet laundry thereby causing the water contained in the fabric to evaporate.
The heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the laundry basket 5 (with reference
to the direction of the drying air flow 22) and cools the wet air flowing from the
basket 5.
[0029] Due to this cooling, the vapour condensates and is collected and discharged, for
example together with a volume of cooling water. The de-humidified air is then sucked
again by the suction unit 17, 18 and ricirculated.
[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the drying circuit 16 comprises a tubular
suction duct 26 formed of a wall portion 27 of the washing tank 3 and of a lid 28
that is manufactured separately and then connected to the wall portion 27.
[0031] The lid 28 comprises a system of cavities that are suitable to contain the cooling
water, namely a cooling coil 29 that can be supplied with mains water such that the
lid 28 forms a condensation wall.
[0032] Thereby, the atmospheric condenser separated from the tank can be eliminated and
the overall structure of the washer-drier machine can be simplified. Furthermore,
since a cooling water volume is maintained within the coil 29 of the lid 28, a continuous
use of a same water volume will be allowed until the latter reaches an upper threshold
temperature for condensation purposes. This results in a considerable saving of cooling
water during the drying step.
[0033] In accordance with an embodiment, this suction duct 26 extends within the washing
tank 3 from a lower area thereof to an opening 30 in the upper area thereof and is
defined by a portion of the inner surface of the tank 3 and by the lid 28.
[0034] Thereby, the same washing tank 3 can be advantageously used both with washing machines
without drying function (without the inner lid 28), and with drier-washer machines
(with the inner lid 28). Furthermore, as the lid 28 forms a condensation wall, two
condensation surfaces are obtained, i.e. the inner surface 31 and the outer surface
32 of the lid 28, which are both arranged within the washing tank 3 and blown by the
drying air 22.
[0035] In accordance with an embodiment, the cooling coil 29 can be supplied with mains
water and arranged in the washing water supply path, between the supply electrovalve
6, 7 and the washing tank 3, preferably upstream of the detergent tray 12.
[0036] Thereby, the cooling coil 29 is supplied by means of the same washing water supply
circuit. This allows the elimination of a dedicated supply circuit for supplying the
cooling coil 29 as well as a simplification of the control programs driving the supply
electrovalves.
[0037] According to an advantageous embodiment, the lid 28 is made from plastics and the
cooling coil 29 is formed by means of blow moulding at or in the lid 28. The lid 28
made of plastics can be used both with a metal washing tank (e.g. stainless steel)
and with a washing tank made of plastics by means of moulding.
[0038] In accordance with an embodiment providing for a direct hydraulic connection with
one of the supply valves 6, 7, the cooling coil 29 cannot be emptied. By opening the
supply valve 6, 7, the water contained within the cooling coil 30 can be only replaced
with fresh mains water.
[0039] Advantageously, the lid 28 is removably connected to the washing tank 3, such as
to allow the same to be replaced in the event of damage, for example limestone clogging.
[0040] According to a further embodiment, the washing tank 3 defines therein and upstream
of the suction duct 26 (with reference to the direction of the drying air flow 22)
a condensation space 19 that is suitable to contain a volume of cooling water 20 that
forms a surface of free water and spaced away from the basket 5 such as to be capable
of cooling the drying air flow 22 downstream of the basket 5 and upstream of the suction
duct 26 within the washing tank 3.
[0041] As the lid 28 comprises the cooling coil 29, the free water surface is an additional
condensation surface to those provided by the lid 28.
[0042] According to an embodiment, the condensation space 19 is formed at the tank bottom
13, approximatively below the basket 5.
[0043] This further condensation surface also does not require any dedicated supply circuit,
because the water volume 20 (condensation surface) on the bottom of the washing tank
3 can be easily supplied with the mains water that is loaded by means of the washing
water loading circuit.
[0044] Furthermore, the volume of cooling water 20 on the tank bottom 13 also allows a continuous
use of a same water volume until the latter is heated past a threshold temperature
allowed for condensation purposes. This results in a considerable saving of cooling
water during the drying step.
[0045] The washer-drier machine 1 comprises a control unit (not shown in the drawings) that
is configured such as to cause the discharge pump 15 and supply electrovalves 6, 7
to drain and/or replace the cooling water within the coil 29 of the lid 28 and/or
the cooling water volume 20 on the tank bottom as a function of the temperature of
the cooling water and/or as a function of the level of the mixture of cooling water
20 and condensate on the tank bottom 13. To the purpose, the control unit interacts
with suitable pressure or level sensors 24 that are arranged at the tank bottom 13
and one or more temperature sensors 25 that are arranged in direct or indirect thermal
contact with the cooling water within the lid 28 and/or on the tank bottom 13.
[0046] Alternatively, the control unit is configured such as to cause the discharge pump
15 and supply electrovalves 6, 7 to drain and/or replace the cooling water within
the coil 29 of the lid 28 and/or the cooling water volume 20 on the tank bottom at
predetermined time intervals, such that:
- during the drying step, the temperature of the cooling water does not exceed an upper
threshold temperature to the purposes of condensation and/or
- during the drying step, the water level on the tank bottom 13 does not exceed an upper
threshold level which will be set such that the basket 5 does not come in contact
with the cooling water.
[0047] With reference to the embodiments providing a second heat exchanger, in addition
to the cooling coil 29 being formed in the lid 28 (first heat exchanger), which consists
of the cooling water volume 20 on the bottom of the washing tank 3, the control unit
is preferably configured such as to allow selecting a drying program, in which, during
an early drying step, only the first heat exchanger will be operated, whereas the
condensation space 19 on the tank bottom 13 will be not provided with cooling water
20.
[0048] Thereby, during the early drying step, a drier environment is obtained within the
tank, which is thus even more favourable to the extraction and condensation of the
initial high amount of humidity contained in the laundry.
[0049] The washer-drier machine according to the invention has a number of advantages.
[0050] The suction duct being formed by the wall portion of the washing tank 3, and the
lid 28 being manufactured separately and then connected to the wall portion, the same
tank structure can be used both for washing machines and washer-drier machines.
[0051] The supply of the cooling water being carried out through the same ducts that are
provided for carrying the washing water during the washing and rinse steps, a dedicated
duct for supplying the heat exchanger is eliminated. This results in the elimination
of at least one dedicated electrovalve for the heat exchanger and the spray nozzles
and cooling ducts thereof.
[0052] By integrating the cooling coil in the lid 28, the space within the washer-drier
machine can be better exploited, and both the structure and washing/drying programs
are considerably simplified and unified.
[0053] Obviously, to the washer-drier machine according to the present invention, those
skilled in the art, aiming at meeting contingent and specific requirements, may carry
out a number of modifications and variations, all being however contemplated within
the scope of protection of the invention, namely as defined in the annexed claims.
1. A washer-drier machine (1) for washing and drying the laundry comprising:
- a washing tank (3) suitable to contain the washing liquid;
- a basket (5) suitable to accommodate the laundry and pivotally supported within
the washing tank (3);
- a drying circuit (16) with a suction unit (17, 18), a heat exchanger (19, 20) and
a heating unit (21) which communicate with each other by means of a drying duct, said
drying duct being suitable for delivering a drying air flow (22) through said basket
(5),
wherein said drying circuit (16) comprises
a tubular suction duct (26) formed of a wall portion (27) of
the washing tank (3) and of a lid (28) that is manufactured separately and then connected
to said wall portion,
characterized in that the lid (28) comprises a cooling coil (29) that can be supplied with mains water,
such that the lid (28) provides a condensation wall.
2. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said suction duct (26)
extends within the washing tank (3) from a lower area thereof to an opening (30) in
the upper area thereof and is defined by a portion of the inner surface of the tank
(3) and by said lid (28).
3. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said condensation wall
of said lid (28) provides two condensation surfaces (31, 32), which are both arranged
within the washing tank (3) to be capable of being blown by the drying air (22).
4. The washer-drier machine (1) according to one of claims 1 or 3, wherein said cooling
coil (29) of the lid (28) is arranged in the washing water supply path, between a
supply electrovalve (6, 7) and the washing tank (3) and can be supplied by means of
the same washing water supply circuit.
5. The washer-drier machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said cooling
coil (29) of the lid (28) is arranged upstream of a detergent tray (12).
6. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid (28)
is made of plastics and the cooling coil (29) is formed by means of blow moulding
at or in the lid (28).
7. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid (28)
is removably connected to the washing tank (3), such as to allow being replaced.
8. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the washing
tank (3) defines therein and upstream of the suction duct (26) with reference to the
direction of the drying air flow (22) a condensation space (19) which is suitable
to contain a volume of cooling water (20) that forms a free water surface spaced away
from the basket (5) such as to be capable of cooling the drying air flow (22) downstream
of the basket (5) and upstream of the suction duct (26) within the washing tank (3).
9. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising a control
unit that is configured such as to cause a discharge pump (15) and supply electrovalves
(6, 7) to replace the cooling water within the coil (29) of the lid (28) as a function
of the temperature of the cooling water.
10. The washer-drier machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the control
unit is configured such as to cause the discharge pump (15) and supply electrovalves
(6, 7) to drain the cooling water volume (20) on the tank bottom (13) as a function
of the temperature and level of the mixture of cooling water (20) and condensate on
the tank bottom (13).
11. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the control unit
interacts with a pressure sensor (24) that is arranged proximate to the tank bottom
(13) and one or more temperature sensors (25) that are arranged in thermal contact,
either directly or indirectly, with the cooling water in the lid (28) and/or on the
tank bottom (13).
12. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the control unit
is configured such as to cause the discharge pump (15) and supply electrovalves (6,
7) to drain and/or replace the cooling water at predetermined time intervals, such
that:
- during the drying step, the temperature of the cooling water does not exceed an
upper threshold temperature to the purposes of condensation and/or
- during the drying step, the water level on the tank bottom (13) does not exceed
an upper threshold level set below the basket (5).
1. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) zum Waschen und Trocknen von Wäsche mit:
- einem zur Aufnahme von Waschflüssigkeit geeigneten Waschtank (3);
- einem zum Unterbringen der Wäsche geeigneten und drehbar in dem Waschtank (3) gelagerten
Korb (5);
- einem Trockenkreis (16) mit einer Saugeinheit (17, 18), einem Wärmetauscher (19,
20) und einer Heizeinheit (21), die über eine zur Abgabe eines trocknenden Luftstromes
(22) durch den Korb (5) geeignete Trockenleitung miteinander kommunizieren,
wobei der Trockenkreis (16) eine röhrenförmige aus einem Wandabschnitt (27) des Waschtanks
(3) und einem separat hergestellten und dann mit dem Wandabschnitt verbundenen Deckel
(28) gebildete Saugleitung (26) umfasst,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Deckel (28) eine mit Leitungswasser versorgbare Kühlwendel (29) umfasst und somit
eine Kondensationswand zur Verfügung stellt.
2. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach Anspruch 1, bei dem sich die Saugleitung (26) in dem
Waschtank (3) von einem tiefer gelegenen Bereich davon zu einer Öffnung (30) in einem
oberen Bereich davon erstreckt und durch einen Abschnitt der Innenfläche des Tanks
(3) und den Deckel (28) begrenzt ist.
3. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die Kondensationswand des Deckels
(28) zwei Kondensationsflächen (31, 32) umfasst, die beide innerhalb des Waschtanks
(3) angeordnet sind, um ein Anblasen mit Trockenluft (22) zu ermöglichen.
4. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 3, bei dem die Kühlwendel (29) des Deckels
(28) zwischen einem Versorgungselektroventil (6, 7) und dem Waschtank (3) in dem Waschwasserversorgungsweg
angeordnet ist und über denselben Waschwasserversorgungskreis versorgt werden kann.
5. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach dem vorstehenden Anspruch, bei dem die Kühlwendel (29)
des Deckels (28) einem Einsatz für Waschmittel (12) vorgeschaltet ist.
6. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Deckel
(28) aus Kunststoff hergestellt und die Kühlwendel (29) mittels Blasformen an oder
in dem Deckel (28) ausgebildet ist.
7. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Deckel
(28) lösbar mit dem Waschtank (3) verbunden und so austauschbar ist.
8. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Waschtank
(3) darin einen in Bezug auf die Richtung des Trockenluftstroms (22) der Saugleitung
(26) vorgelagerten Kondensationsraum (19) begrenzt, der zur Aufnahme eines eine freie,
von dem Korb (5) beabstandete, für eine dem Korb (5) nachgelagerte und der Saugeinheit
(26) vorgelagerte Kühlung des Trockenluftstroms (22) in dem Waschtank (3) geeignete
Wasseroberfläche bildenden Kühlwasservolumens (20) geeignet ist.
9. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche mit einer Steuereinheit,
die dazu ausgelegt ist, eine Auslasspumpe (15) und Versorgungselektroventile (6, 7)
das Kühlwasser in der Wendel (29) des Deckels (28) in Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur
des Kühlwassers ersetzen zu lassen.
10. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach dem vorstehenden Anspruch, bei dem die Steuereinheit
dazu ausgelegt ist, die Auslasspumpe (15) und die Versorgungselektroventile (6, 7)
Kühlwasservolumen (20) an dem Tankboden (13) in Abhängigkeit von Temperatur und Pegel
der Mischung des Kühlwassers (20) und Kondensats abführen zu lassen.
11. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, bei dem die Steuereinheit mit einem
in der Nähe des Tankbodens (13) angeordneten Drucksensor (24) und einem oder mehreren
Temperatursensoren (25), die entweder in direktem oder indirektem thermischen Kontakt
mit dem Kühlwasser in dem Deckel (28) und/oder an dem Tankboden (13) angeordnet sind,
zusammenwirkt.
12. Wasch-Trocken-Gerät (1) nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, bei dem die Steuereinheit dazu ausgelegt
ist, die Auslasspumpe (15) und die Versorgungselektroventile (6, 7) das Kühlwasser
in vorbestimmten Zeitintervallen abführen und/oder ersetzen zu lassen, und zwar so,
dass:
- während des Trocknungsschritts die Temperatur des Kühlwassers eine obere Temperaturschwelle
für die Kondensation nicht überschreitet und/oder
- während des Trocknungsschritts der Wasserpegel am Tankboden (13) einen oberen, auf
unterhalb des Korbes (5) eingestellten Schwellenwert nicht überschreitet.
1. Machine lavante-séchante (1) pour laver et sécher le linge, comprenant :
une cuve de lavage (3) convenant pour contenir le liquide de lavage ;
un panier (5) convenant pour loger le linge et supporté de manière pivotante à l'intérieur
de la cuve de lavage (3) ;
un circuit de séchage (16) avec une unité d'aspiration (17, 18), un échangeur de chaleur
(19, 20) et une unité de chauffage (21) qui communiquent entre eux au moyen d'un conduit
de séchage, ledit conduit de séchage convenant pour délivrer un écoulement d'air de
séchage (22) à travers ledit panier (5),
dans lequel ledit circuit de séchage (16) comprend un conduit d'aspiration tubulaire
(26) formé d'une partie de paroi (27) de la cuve de lavage (3) et d'un couvercle (28)
qui est fabriqué séparément et ensuite raccordé à ladite partie de paroi, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (28) comprend un serpentin de refroidissement (29) qui peut être alimenté
en eau courante, de sorte que le couvercle (28) fournit une paroi de condensation.
2. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit conduit d'aspiration
(26) s'étend à l'intérieur de la cuve de lavage (3) à partir de sa zone inférieure
jusqu'à une ouverture (30) dans sa zone supérieure et est défini par une partie de
la surface interne de la cuve (3) et par ledit couvercle (28).
3. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite paroi de
condensation dudit couvercle (28) fournit deux surfaces de condensation (31, 32) qui
sont toutes deux agencées à l'intérieur de la cuve de lavage (3) pour pouvoir être
balayées par l'air de séchage (22).
4. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 3, dans
lequel ledit serpentin de refroidissement (29) du couvercle (28) est agencé dans la
trajectoire d'alimentation d'eau de lavage, entre une électrovanne d'alimentation
(6, 7) et la cuve de lavage (3) et peut être alimentée au moyen du même circuit d'alimentation
d'eau de lavage.
5. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel ledit
serpentin de refroidissement (29) du couvercle (28) est agencé en amont d'un bac de
lessive (12).
6. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel le couvercle (28) est réalisé à partir d'une matière plastique et le serpentin
de refroidissement (29) est formé au moyen d'un moulage par soufflage au niveau de
ou dans le couvercle (28).
7. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel le couvercle (28) est raccordé de manière amovible à la cuve de lavage
(3) de sorte à pouvoir être remplacé.
8. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel la cuve de lavage (3) définit à son intérieur et en amont du conduit d'aspiration
(26) en référence à la direction de l'écoulement d'air de séchage (22), un espace
de condensation (19) qui est approprié pour contenir un volume d'eau de refroidissement
(20) qui forme une surface d'eau libre espacée du panier (5) afin d'être à même de
refroidir l'écoulement d'air de séchage (22) en aval du panier (5) et en amont du
conduit d'aspiration (26) à l'intérieur de la cuve de lavage (3).
9. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
comprenant une unité de commande qui est configurée pour amener une pompe de décharge
(15) et des électrovannes d'alimentation (6, 7) à remplacer l'eau de refroidissement
à l'intérieur du serpentin (29) du couvercle (28) en fonction de la température de
l'eau de refroidissement.
10. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel l'unité
de commande est configurée pour amener la pompe de décharge (15) et les électrovannes
d'alimentation (6, 7) à évacuer le volume d'eau de refroidissement (20) au fond (13)
de la cuve en fonction de la température et du niveau de mélange d'eau de refroidissement
(20) et du condensat au fond (13) de la cuve.
11. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon la revendication 9 ou 10, dans lequel l'unité de
commande interagit avec un capteur de pression (24) qui est agencé à proximité du
fond (13) de la cuve et un ou plusieurs capteurs de température (25) qui sont agencés
en contact thermique, directement ou indirectement, avec l'eau de refroidissement
dans le couvercle (28) et/ou au fond (13) de la cuve.
12. Machine lavante-séchante (1) selon la revendication 9 ou 10, dans lequel l'unité de
commande est configurée de telle sorte à amener la pompe de décharge (15) et les électrovannes
d'alimentation (6, 7) à évacuer et/ou remplacer l'eau de refroidissement à intervalles
de temps prédéterminées, de sorte que :
pendant l'étape de séchage, la température de l'eau de refroidissement ne dépasse
pas une température de seuil supérieure pour des buts de condensation, et/ou
pendant l'étape de séchage, le niveau d'eau au fond (13) de la cuve ne dépasse pas
un niveau de seuil supérieur établi au-dessous du panier (5).