Washer-drier machine

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic washer-drier machine which provides for washing and drying the laundry.

[0002] 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 housed rotatably about an 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] A washing water delivery system that can be connected to the water supply is provided in order to load the tank with mains water and detergent substances and aids. This washing water delivery system comprises a plurality of electrovalves 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, a drain duct is provided with a discharge pump being associated therewith, which provides for the removal of the washing liquid from the tank and controls, together with the supply electrovalves, the level of liquid within the tank. An electric resistance being arranged within the tank in the gap between the tank wall and laundry basket is provided to heat the washing liquid contained in the tank.

[0005] The drying circuit of prior art washer-drier machines typically comprises a suction unit, a heat exchanger and a heating unit with electric resistances communicating with each other by means of a drying duct.

[0006] In such a loop circuit, the air flow generated by the suction unit is heated by the electric resistances and blown to the basket, where it causes the water contained within the tissues to evaporate as it passes through the wet laundry. In the heat exchanger, generally of the jet or atmospheric types, the humid air is cooled by a cold water flow. Due to this cooling, the vapour condensates and is collected and discharged together with the cooling water. The dehumidified air is then sucked again by the suction unit and ricirculated.

[0007] This known solution entails, besides high electric power consumption, a non negligible water consumption, in the order of 40 - 50 L per drying cycle.

[0008] Washer-drier machines are further known, which carry out only the function of drying the laundry. In order to condensate the humidity in the drying air, these washer-drier machines cool the heat exchanger by means of a second cooling air flow from the environment, the so-called air-to-air heat exchange.

[0009] The need has been felt for a long time to implement the air-to-air heat exchanger known from drying machines also in washing machines in order to reduce the consumption of mains water absorbed to the purpose of cooling the heat exchanger.

[0010] First of all, the known attempts had to face the problem of fluff that develops from the laundry and are entrained by the drying air flow into the heat exchanger and also into the suction unit.

[0011] In atmospheric heat exchangers, the fluff is automatically captured by the cooling water and eliminated through the drain duct.

[0012] In the drying machines with air-to-air heat exchange system, filters are provided to be arranged in the drying circuit downstream of the laundry basket and upstream of the heat exchanger. These filters are usually accessible through the loading door to allow cleaning and replacing the same, when required.

[0013] The provision of a filter in a washer-drier machine having circuits and washing liquid levels that are configured such as to meet the washing requirements requires a reduction in the filter bulk, which filter has to be placed in a dry area that can be easily reached by the user for cleaning and replacement purposes. This entails an increase in the flow resistance with a consequent increase in the power required to achieve a predetermined drying air flow rate.

[0014] In order to avoid the above mentioned problems, EP 0 816 549 A1 has suggested a washing machine with an air-to-air heat exchanger and a large-sized self-cleaning fluff filter. In this washer-drier machine, an auxiliary duct branches off from the drain duct of the washing tank and a suitable auxiliary pump conveys a part of the washing or rinse liquid drained from the tank, through this auxiliary duct and a suitable sprinkler nozzle to the filter in order to perform cleaning.

[0015] Due to the additional hydraulic circuits and auxiliary pump, this solution entails high manufacturing costs, as well as the provision of a drying program which provides for a dedicated driving operation of the auxiliary pump.

[0016] The general object of the present invention is thus to provide a washer-drier machine that is provided with an air-to-air heat exchanger, having such characteristics as to overcome at least some of the drawbacks found when the air-to-air condensation technology is transferred from the drying machine to the washer-drier machine.

[0017] Within this general object, a further object of the present invention is to reduce the hydraulic components of the washer-drier machine and the electric power consumption to eliminate the fluff within the drying circuit.

[0018] 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.

[0019] According to the invention, the washer-drier machine for washing and drying the laundry comprises:

• a washing tank suitable to contain the washing liquid;
• a basket suitable to accommodate the laundry and being rotatably supported within the washing tank;
• a system for delivering the washing water with a plurality of washing flow paths extending from one or more supply electrovalves through corresponding compartments of a detergent tray, to the washing tank, in which the washing flows along said washing flow paths can be selectively adjusted by means of said one or more electrovalves,

• a drying circuit with a first suction unit, an air-to-air heat exchanger and a heating unit communicating with each other by means of a drying duct, said drying circuit being suitable to blow a drying air flow through said basket,
• a cooling circuit with a second suction unit and said air-to-air heat exchanger, wherein said cooling circuit is suitable to intake a cooling air flow from the environment and blow it to said air-to-air heat exchanger to cool the latter,
• a fluff-rinse duct that is configured to convey a flow of fluff-rinse liquid to the drying circuit in order to remove the fluff therein,

wherein the fluff-rinse duct brunches off from at least one of the washing flow paths, such that the fluff-rinse flow can be selectively supplied by means of the same electrovalves (6, 7) together with the washing flow path (24; 25; 26; 8; 9; 10), the washer-drier machine having

the features specified in claim 1.

[0020] Thereby, both the auxiliary duct and the auxiliary pump (known from EP 0 816 549 A1), which is only dedicated to the cleaning of the filter of the air-to-air heat exchanger can be eliminated, and the control of the fluff-rinse flow can be simplified.

[0021] Furthermore, as the auxiliary pump is eliminated, and the network pressure is used in order to remove the fluff from the drying circuit, the electric power consumption to operate the auxiliary pump are also eliminated.

[0022] In order to better understand the present invention and appreciate the advantages thereof, several embodiments will be described herein below by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

[0023] - Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a washer-drier machine according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] - Fig. 2 is a front sectional view of the washer-drier machine in Fig. 1;

[0025] - Fig. 3 is a further partially sectional side view on a different sectional plane from that in Fig. 1.

[0026] - Fig. 4 is a partially sectional top view of the washer-drier machine in Fig. 1;

[0027] - Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a detergent tray with the respective washing flow paths and with the electrovalve unit of a washer-drier machine associated therewith according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0028] - Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a detergent tray with the respective washing flow paths and with the electrovalve unit of a washer-drier machine associated therewith according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0029] - Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a detergent tray with the respective washing flow paths of a washer-drier machine according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0030] With reference to the drawings, 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 rotatably 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 be capable of carrying out the loading/unloading of the laundry.

[0031] 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.

[0032] A washing water delivery system that can be connected to the water supply is provided in order to load the tank 3 with mains water and detergent substances and aids. This washing water delivery system comprises a plurality of washing flow paths extending from, for example, first 6 and second 7 supply electrovalves, through corresponding compartments 8, 9, 10 of a detergent tray 12, to the washing tank 3.

[0033] The washing flows along the washing flow paths can be selectively adjusted by means of the first and/or second electrovalves 6, 7.

[0034] On the bottom 13 of the washing tank 3, a drain duct 14 is provided 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.

[0035] 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 of the latter, in the gap between the tank wall 3 and the laundry basket 5.

[0036] The washer-drier machine 1 further comprises a loop drying circuit with a suction unit, for example a fan impeller 17 driven by an electric motor 18, an air-to-air heat exchanger (preferably having a plurality of primary ducts 19 through which the drying air flow is blown and one or more secondary surfaces or ducts 20 that are blown or passed through by the cooling air flow), as well as an electric-resistance heating unit 21 which communicate with each other by means of a drying duct 16.

[0037] In such a loop circuit, the air flow 22 generated by the suction unit 17, 18 is heated by the electric resistance 21 and blown to the basket 5, where it causes the water contained within the tissues to evaporate as it passes through the wet laundry. The heat exchanger 19, 20 is arranged downstream of the laundry basket 5 (with reference to the direction of the drying air flow 22) and cools the humid air from the basket 5 in the primary ducts 19, which are, in turn, cooled by means of cool air taken in from the environment and conveyed to the secondary ducts 20 adjacent to the primary ducts 19.

[0038] Due to this cooling, the vapour condensates and is collected and discharged. The dehumidified air is then sucked back from the suction unit 17, 18 and ricirculated.

[0039] An open cooling circuit is provided to cool the air-to-air heat exchanger 19, 20, with a second suction unit, such as a fan impeller 23 that is operated by an electric motor 24 and being in flow communication with the external environment, such as through suitable suction/release openings or grids 25 being formed within the housing 2.

[0040] The cooling circuit is configured to take a cooling air flow 26 from the environment and convey the latter through said secondary surfaces or ducts 20 of the air-to-air heat exchanger 19, 20 in order to cool the walls they share with the primary ducts 19.

[0041] The washer-drier machine 1 further comprises a fluff-rinse duct 27 that branches off from at least one of the washing flow paths (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) upstream of the washing tank 3 and connected to the drying circuit. Thereby, a fluff-rinse flow 28 can be selectively supplied by means of the same electrovalves (6, 7) that drive the supply of the flows within the washing flow path/s (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12).

[0042] Thereby, the fluff can be removed from the drying circuit, while eliminating the auxiliary pump that is only dedicated to cleaning the heat exchanger filter.

[0043] Furthermore, by eliminating the auxiliary pump and using the network pressure in order to remove the fluff from the drying circuit, the electric power consumption for operating the auxiliary pump is also eliminated.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the fluff-rinse duct 27 is connected to the drying circuit in an upper end portion 32 of the heat exchanger 19, 20 or downstream of the heat exchanger 19, 20 (with reference to the direction of the drying air flow 22) and the primary ducts 19 of the heat exchanger 19, 20 are oriented or inclined such that the fluff-rinse flow 28 passes through these primary ducts 19 countercurrently to the drying air flow 22. The first suction unit 17, 18 is arranged upstream and preferably above the connection of the fluff-rinse duct 27 such that the fluff-rinse flow 28 only involves the heat exchanger 19, 20 and not the fan impeller 17.

[0045] Preferably, means are provided to deliver the fluff-rinse flow 28, such as a spray nozzle 29 configured to deliver the fluff-rinse liquid on all the primary ducts 19 of the heat exchanger 19, 20, and possibly, to increase the pressure therein.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the heat exchanger 19, 20 is arranged between a rear wall 31 of the washing tank 3 and a rear wall of the housing 2.

[0047] A suction opening 30 formed within the lower part of the rear wall 31 of the washing tank 3 connects the interior of the tank 3 to the lower end of the heat exchanger 19, 20, and particularly to the primary ducts 19. These primary ducts 19 extend from the bottom up to the upper end portion 32 of the heat exchanger 19, 20, which portion is in flow communication with the suction unit 17, 18 being arranged above the washing tank 3.

[0048] Thereby, the fluff-rinse flow 28 fed by the spray nozzle 29 in the upper end portion 32 of the heat exchanger 19, 20 passes through the primary ducts 19 from the top down against the direction of the drying air flow 22. Along its path, the fluff-rinse flow 28 cleans the primary ducts 19 and carries the fluff, through the suction opening 30 to the tank bottom 13, from which they are drained together with the fluff-rinse water and condensate.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the drying circuit is not provided with fluff filters. According to an alternative embodiment, a fluff filter can be arranged upstream of the heat exchanger 19 (with reference to the drying air flow 22) such that the fluff-rinse flow also cleans the filter.

[0050] Preferable, the air-to-air heat exchanger 19, 20 is configured as a battery approximately having the shape of a parallelepiped flattened in the axial direction of the basket 5 and widened in the lateral direction, such as to allow the same to be positioned between the rear wall 31 of the tank 3 and the rear wall of the housing 2 without substantially increasing the overall dimensions of the appliance. For an optimum use of the space available, the heat exchanger 19, 20 comprises a cavity at the driving means imparting the rotary motion to the basket 5, for example a discharge 33 formed at a pulley (not shown, in (not shown, in order to avoid burdening the drawings).

[0051] According to an embodiment, the washer-drier machine comprises a control unit being configured such that, during at least one step of the drying cycle, the fluff-rinse flow is continuously activated.

[0052] According to a further embodiment, the control unit of the washer-drier machine is configured such that, during at least one step of the drying cycle, the fluff-rinse flow is sequentially activated.

[0053] According to a still further embodiment, the control unit of the washer-drier machine is configured such that the fluff-rinse flow is only and automatically activated during washing and/or rinse cycles, such as to carry out the cleaning of the heat exchanger by means of the water that, after it has passed through the heat exchanger 19, 20, is used to wash and/or rinse the laundry, while the water consumption during the drying cycle is equal to zero.

[0054] A further aspect of the present invention relates to conveying the drying flow 22 and cooling flow 26 by means of the respective suction units 17, 18 and 23, 24.

[0055] In accordance with an embodiment, the suction units for the drying flow and cooling flow can be operated and controlled in an independent manner such as to allow carrying out an independent variation in the flow rate of the individual flows. This independent variation in the flow rates of the drying flow 22 and cooling flow 26 is controlled by the same control unit 34 of the washer-drier machine 1 that drives the drying programs and adapts the flow rate of the drying flow 22 to the residual humidity of the laundry and the flow rate of the cooling flow 26 to the ambient temperature.

[0056] The humidity of the laundry can be directly or indirectly detected, and indicatively by measuring the laundry electrical conductivity or by measuring the temperature of the drying flow 22 upstream and downstream of the basket 5 or estimated based on the temperature progress as a function of the time elapsed from the beginning of the drying cycle.

[0057] In accordance with a further embodiment, the control unit 34 is configured such as to control and adjust the flow rate of the drying flow 22 and/or the supply of the heating unit 21 as a function of the environment temperature, such as to adapt the drying flow 22 to the heat absorption capacity of the environment in which the washer-drier machine 1 is operating.

[0058] In order to allow said variability of both flows, both electric motors 18, 24 are varying speed motors.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the opening 25 for sucking ambient air is formed in the rear wall 35 of the housing 2 at about the upper end portion 32 of the heat exchanger 19, 20. A (preferably rubber) short pipe 35 is connected to the suction opening 25 connecting the opening 25 to the second suction unit 23, 24. The second suction unit 23, 24 is connected to the heat exchanger 19, 20 by means of a diagonal tube 41 which has an opening section 42 facing a longitudinal side of the heat exchanger 19, 20, and preferably extending over more than half the length of this longitudinal side. The diagonal tube 41 is inclined relative to the direction of the primary ducts 19 such that the cooling flow 26 blows the surfaces and/or ducts 20 of the heat exchanger 19, 20 in an inclined direction and countercurrently relative to the partial drying flows 22 in the primary ducts 19. This configuration has proved to be particularly effective to the purpose of the air-to-air heat exchange.

[0060] According to an embodiment, the drying circuit, including the first suction unit 17, 18, the heating means 21 and the air-to-air heat exchanger 19, 20 and the cooling circuit, including the second suction unit 23, 24 and excluding the suction opening 25, are all connected to the tank-ballast unit such as to move together with the latter. In fact, the only flexible connection is that between the suction opening 25 and second suction unit 23, 24.

[0061] According to embodiments (Fig. 5 and 6) the two electrovalves 6, 7 are placed in parallel and supplied by means of an inlet duct 36 in common. Each electrovalve 6, 7 has its own outlet duct 37, 38 connected to the detergent tray 12. The electrovalves 6, 7 can be controlled independently of each other in order to be capable of selectively opening and closing said outlet ducts 37, 38.

[0062] The detergent tray 12 preferably comprises three compartments, i.e.:

• a PRE compartment 8 intended to accommodate a pre-washing detergent;
• a LAV compartment 9 intended to accommodate a washing detergent;
• an ADD compartment 10 intended to accommodate an additive.

[0063] The outlet ducts 37, 38 of the electrovalve unit 6, 7 are configured and oriented such as to define an intersection point of the flows delivered from the first 37 and second 38 outlet ducts. Thereby, by means of the three configurations, as follows:

[0064] - first electrovalve 6 opened and second electrovalve 7 closed;

[0065] - first electrovalve 6 closed and second electrovalve 7 opened;

[0066] - first electrovalve 6 opened and second electrovalve 7 opened;
three separate flows can be delivered, i.e. a first individual flow in the direction of the first outlet duct 37, a second individual flow in the direction of the second outlet duct 38 and a third crossed flow (with both electrovalves 6, 7 opened) in a resulting direction of the two individual flows in the intersection point.

[0067] By means of the three flows, two compartments of the detergent tray 12 and the fluff-rinse duct 27 can be supplied in a controlled and independent manner. A third compartment of the detergent tray 12, preferably the additive compartment 10 is supplied simultaneously with the fluff-rinse duct 27 for cleaning the heat exchanger 19, 20. The flow through the third compartment, e.g. ADD 10 may be branched off from the fluff-rinse flow 28 or vice versa o the third compartment is arranged in series upstream the fluff-rinsing duct 27.

[0068] Referring back to the electrovalve group 6, 7, 36, 37, 38, an embodiment will be described herein below, which aims at differentiating the flow rate of the flow according to the type of use. Particularly, a powerful fluff-rinse flow is desired to be achieved with a higher flow rate than the washing flows. To this purpose, a configuration has been devised, which has an inlet flow rate about of 16 L/min and delivers:

• 8 L/min with an individual electrovalve opened and
• 16 L/min with two electrovalves opened (8 L/min +8 L/min).

[0069] According to this embodiment (Fig. 5), the common inlet duct 36 has reducing or inlet passing means 39 defining a flow rate max value in this inlet duct 36, e.g. 16 L/min and each of the electrovalves 6, 7 or respective outlet ducts 37, 38 comprises reducing means or outlet passing means 40 defining a max flow rate value in each of these outlet ducts 37, 38 of about half the max inlet flow rate, for example 8 L/min. Consequently, the electrovalves 6, 7 can individually deliver half the max inlet flow rate (for example, 8 L/min) or simultaneously (with both electrovalves 6, 7 opened) a total flow rate equal to the value of the inlet max flow rate (for example, 16 L/min).

[0070] Thereby, the flow rate of the crossed flow (washing flow of the condenser 19, 20) results to be higher than, and more precisely twice the flow rate of the individual flow of each outlet duct 37, 38 with an individual electrovalve opened. This advantageously allows eliminating the fluff from the primary ducts 19 of the heat exchanger 19, 20 by means of a potent water jet, without having to use the same high flow rate even for pre-washing and washing operations, thus differentiating the consumption of mains water for the various uses within a washing and drying cycle.

[0071] Alternatively, a configuration of the electrovalve unit can be envisaged, which has an inlet flow rate about of 16 L/min and that delivers:

• 8 L/min with an individual electrovalve opened and
• 8 L/min with two electrovalve opened (4 L/min + 4 L/min).

[0072] In this case, the common inlet duct 36 has inlet passing means 39A defining the max flow rate value in this inlet duct 36, e.g. 8 litres per minute and each of the electrovalves 6, 7 or respective outlet ducts 37, 38 comprises outlet passing means 40 defining the max flow rate value in each of these outlet ducts 37, 38 approximatively equal to the max inlet flow rate, for example 8 litres per minute. Thereby, the electrovalves 6, 7 can individually deliver the max inlet flow rate (for example 8 litres per minute with an individual electrovalve opened) or simultaneously (with both electrovalves 6, 7 opened) a total flow rate equal to the value of the max inlet flow rate (for example 8 litres per minute). In the second case, each outlet duct would deliver a flow of about half (e.g. 4 litres per minute) the max inlet flow rate (e.g. 8 litres per minute).

[0073] Thereby, the f low rate of the crossed f low (washing flow of the condenser 19, 20) results about equal to the flow rate of the individual flow of each outlet duct 37, 38 with an individual electrovalve opened. This would allow using the same electrovalve units as already used in the washing machines without drying function.

[0074] According to an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured such as to allow selecting a drying program having three steps (an early heating step, a subsequent operating temperature and a subsequent final cool down step), wherein:

• the electric resistance 21 is operated during the first two steps and remains turned off during the cool down step;
• the suction means 17, 18 of the drying flow are operated throughout the three steps;
• the suction means 23, 24 of the cooling flow are operated only during the last two steps (operating temperature and cool down), while they remain turned off during the first heating step;
• the discharge pump is operated at predetermined intervals during the drying step at the operating temperature in order to eliminate the condensate and liquid with the fluff accumulated on the tank bottom.

[0075] 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 further modifications and variations, all being however contemplated within the scope of protection of the invention, such as defined in the annexed claims.

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 being rotatably supported within the washing tank (3);

- a washing water delivery system (6, 7, 12) with a plurality of washing flow paths extending from one or more supply electrovalves (6,7), through corresponding compartments (8, 9, 10) of a detergent tray (12), to the washing tank (3), wherein the washing flows along said washing flow paths are selectively adjustable via said one or more electrovalves (6, 7),

- a drying circuit (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) with a first suction unit (17, 18), an air-to-air heat exchanger (19, 20) and a heating unit (21) which communicate with each other by means of a drying duct (16), said drying circuit being suitable to deliver a drying air flow (22) through said basket (5),

- a cooling circuit (23, 24, 25, 20, 35) with a second suction unit (23, 24) and said air-to-air heat exchanger (19, 20), wherein said cooling circuit is suitable to intake a cooling air flow (26) from the environment and blow it to said air-to-air heat exchanger (19, 20) to cool the latter,

- a fluff-rinse duct (27) that is configured to convey a flow of fluff-rinse liquid (28) to the drying circuit in order to remove the fluff therein,

characterized in that said fluff-rinse duct (27) branches off from at least one of said washing flow paths (6, 7, 12), such that said fluff-rinse flow (28) can be selectively supplied by means of at least one of the same electrovalves (6, 7) together with said washing flow path (6, 7, 12),
wherein the fluff-rinse duct (27) is connected to the drying circuit in an upper end potion (32) of the heat exchanger (19, 20) and downstream of the heat exchanger (19, 20) with reference to the direction of the drying air flow (22) and one or more primary ducts (19) of the heat exchanger (19, 20) are oriented such that the fluff-rinse flow (28) fed by a spray nozzle (29) in the upper end portion (32) of the heat exchanger (19, 20) passes through said primary ducts (19) from top down countercurrently relative to the drying air flow (22) in said primary ducts (19), and further characterised in that a suction opening (30) formed within a lower part of the rear wall (31) of the washing tank (3) connects the interior of the washing tank (3) with a lower end of the heat exchanger (19, 20), such that the fluff-rinse flow (28) cleans the primary ducts (19) and carries the fluff through said suction opening (30) to the washing tank bottom (13) from which the fluff is drained together with the fluff-rinse water and condensate.

2. The washer-drier machine (1) According to claim 1, comprising delivery means (29) of the fluff-rinse flow (28) which are configured to deliver the fluff-rinse liquid throughout the primary ducts (19) of the heat exchanger (19, 20).

3. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 2, wherein said delivery means (29) of the fluff-rinse flow (28) comprise means for increasing the flow pressure.

4. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat exchanger (19, 20) is arranged between a rear wall (31) of the washing tank (3) and a rear wall of the housing (2).

5. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said drying circuit is not provided with fluff filters.

6. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the air-to-air heat exchanger (19, 20) is configured as a battery approximatively having a parallelepiped shape flattened in the axial direction of the basket (5) and widened in the lateral direction and wherein the heat exchanger (19, 20) comprises a cavity at the driving means imparting the rotary motion to the basket (5).

7. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising a control unit (34) which is configured such that, during at least one step of the drying cycle, the fluff-rinse flow is sequentially activated.

8. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein a control unit of the washer-drier machine is configured such that the fluff-rinse flow is only and automatically activated during the washing and/or rinse cycles.

9. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the suction units (17, 18; 23, 24) for the drying flow (22) and cooling flow (26) can be independently operated and controlled by a control unit (34) such as to allow an independent variation in the flow rate of the individual flows (22, 26).

10. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 9, wherein the control unit (34) of the washer-drier machine (1) is configured to adapt the flow rate of the drying flow (22) to the residual humidity of the laundry and/or the flow rate of the cooling flow (26) to the ambient temperature.

11. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 9, wherein the control unit (34) is configured such as to control and adjust the flow rate of the drying flow (22) and/or the supply of the heating unit (21) as a function of the ambient temperature such as to adapt the drying flow (22) to the heat absorption capacity of the environment in which the washer-drier machine (1) is operating.

12. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein both electric motors (18, 24) of the two suction units (17, 18; 23, 24) are varying speed motors.

13. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said second suction unit (23, 24) is connected to the heat exchanger (19, 20) by means of a diagonal tube (41) which has an opening section (42) facing a longitudinal side of the heat exchanger (19, 20) and extending along more than half the length of this longitudinal side, said diagonal tube (36) being inclined relative to the direction of the primary ducts (19) such that the cooling flow (26) blows the surfaces and/or ducts (20) of the heat exchanger (19, 20) in an inclined direction and countercurrently relative to the drying flows (22) in the primary ducts (19).

14. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the whole drying circuit, including the first suction unit (17, 18), heating means (21) and air-to-air heat exchanger (19,20), and the second suction unit (23, 24) of the cooling circuit are connected to a tank-ballast unit of the machine 1, such as to move together with said tank-ballast unit.

15. The washer-drier machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said electrovalve (6, 7) comprise two electrovalves arranged in parallel and supplied by means of a common inlet duct (36), each electrovalve (6, 7) having its own outlet duct (37, 38) connected with the detergent tray (12) and being capable of being controlled independently of each other,
wherein said outlet ducts (37, 38) are configured such as to define an intersection point of the flows that are delivered from the first (37) and second (38) outlet ducts, such as to be capable of delivering the three separate flows, as fellows:

- a first individual flow in the direction of the first outlet duct (37);

- a second individual flow in the direction of the second outlet duct (38);

- a third crossed flow in a resulting direction of the first and second directions in the intersection point of the two individual flows to supply two compartments of the detergent tray (12) and the fluff-rinse duct (27) in a controlled and independent manner.

16. The washer-drier machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein an additional third compartment of the detergent tray (12) can be supplied simultaneously with the fluff-rinse duct (27).

17. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 16, wherein said third compartment (10) branches off from the fluff-rinse duct (27) or vice versa, or said third compartment (10) is arranged in series upstream of the fluff-rinse duct (27).

18. The washer-drier machine (1) according to claim 16, wherein said fluff-rinse duct (27) can be supplied by means of said crossed flow at both of said electrovalves (6, 7) opened, and the common inlet duct (36) has inlet passing means (39) defining the max flow rate value in this inlet duct (36) and each of the electrovalves (6, 7) comprises outlet passing means (40) defining the max flow rate value in each of these outlet ducts (37, 38), which is lower than the max inlet flow rate such that the flow rate of the fluff-rinse flow (28) is higher than the flow rate of the individual flow of each outlet duct (37, 38) with an individual electrovalve. (6, 7) opened.

Ansprüche

1. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) zum Waschen und Trocknen der Wäsche, umfassend:

- einen Waschbehälter (3), welcher dafür geeignet ist, die Waschflüssigkeit zu enthalten;

- einen Korb (5), welcher dafür geeignet ist, die Wäsche aufzunehmen und welcher innerhalb des Waschbehälters (3) drehbar gelagert ist;

- ein Waschwasser-Zufuhrsystem (6, 7, 12) mit einer Mehrzahl von Waschströmungswegen, welche sich von einem oder mehreren Zufuhr-Elektroventilen (6, 7) durch entsprechende Fächer (8, 9, 10) von einer Waschmittelschale (12) zu dem Waschbehälter (3) erstrecken, wobei die Waschströme entlang der Waschströmungswege selektiv einstellbar sind vermittels des einen oder der mehreren Elektroventile (6, 7),

- einen Trocknungskreis (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) mit einer ersten Saugeinheit (17, 18), einem Luft-zu-Luft-Wärmetauscher (19, 20) und einer Heizeinheit (21), welche miteinander durch einen Trocknungskanal (16) kommunizieren, wobei der Trocknungskreis dafür geeignet ist, einen Trocknungsluftstrom (22) durch den Korb (5) zu liefern,

- einen Kühlkreis (23, 24, 25, 20, 35) mit einer zweiten Saugeinheit (23, 24) und dem Luft-zu-Luft-Wärmetauscher (19, 20), wobei der Kühlkreis dafür geeignet ist, einen Kühlluftstrom (26) von der Umgebung aufzunehmen und ihn zu dem Luft-zu-Luft-Wärmetauscher (19, 20) zu blasen, um den letzteren zu kühlen,

- einen Flusenspülkanal (27), welcher dazu konfiguriert ist, einen Strom von einer Flusenspülflüssigkeit (28) zu dem Trocknungskreis zu befördern, um die Flusen darin zu entfernen,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Flusenspülkanal (27) von wenigstens einem von den Waschströmungswegen (6, 7, 12) abzweigt, so dass der Flusenspülstrom (28) selektiv zugeführt werden kann mittels wenigstens eines von den selben Elektroventilen (6, 7) zusammen mit dem Waschströmungsweg (6, 7, 12),
wobei der Flusenspülkanal (27) mit dem Trocknungskreis in einem oberen Endabschnitt (32) von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) und stromabwärts von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) bezüglich der Richtung von dem Trocknungsluftstrom (22) verbunden ist und ein oder mehrere primäre Kanäle (19) von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) derart orientiert sind, dass der Flusenspülstrom (28), welcher durch eine Sprühdüse (29) in dem oberen Endabschnitt (32) von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) zugeführt wird, durch die primären Kanäle (19) von oben nach unten in einer Gegenstromrichtung relativ zu dem Trocknungsluftstrom (22) in den primären Kanälen (19) passiert, und ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Saugöffnung (30), welche innerhalb eines unteren Teils von der Rückwand (31) von dem Waschbehälter (3) ausgebildet ist, das Innere von dem Waschbehälter (3) mit einem unteren Ende von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) verbindet, so dass der Flusenspülstrom (28) die primären Kanäle (19) reinigt und die Flusen durch die Saugöffnung (30) zu dem Waschbehälterboden (13) befördert, von welchem die Flusen zusammen mit dem Flusenspülwasser und Kondensat abgelassen werden.

2. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, umfassend Zuleitungsmittel (29) von dem Flusenspülstrom (28), welche dazu konfiguriert sind, die Flusenspülflüssigkeit durch die primären Kanäle (19) von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) hindurch zu liefern.

3. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Zuleitungsmittel (29) von dem Flusenspülstrom (28) Mittel umfasst, um den Strömungsdruck zu erhöhen.

4. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei der Wärmetauscher (19, 20) zwischen einer Rückwand (31) von dem Waschbehälter (3) und einer Rückwand von dem Gehäuse (2) angeordnet ist.

5. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei der Trocknungskreis nicht mit Flusenfiltern versehen ist.

6. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei der Luft-zu-Luft-Wärmetauscher (19, 20) wie eine Batterie konfiguriert ist, welche annähernd eine Parallelepipedform hat, welche in der axialen Richtung von dem Korb (5) abgeflacht ist und in der lateralen Richtung geweitet ist, und wobei der Wärmetauscher (19, 20) einen Hohlraum an dem Antriebsmittel umfasst, welches dem Korb (5) die Drehbewegung verleiht.

7. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, umfassend eine Steuer-/Regeleinheit (34), welche derart konfiguriert ist, dass während wenigstens eines Schritts von dem Trocknungszyklus der Flusenspülstrom sequenziell aktiviert ist.

8. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei eine Steuer-/Regeleinheit von der Waschtrocknermaschine derart konfiguriert ist, dass der Flusenspülstrom nur und automatisch während der Wasch- und/oder Spülzyklen aktiviert ist.

9. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei die Saugeinheiten (17, 18; 23, 24) für den Trocknungsstrom (22) und den Kühlstrom (26) von einer Steuer-/Regeleinheit (34) unabhängig betätigt und gesteuert/geregelt werden können, um eine unabhängige Veränderung der Strömungsrate von den Einzelströmen (22, 26) zu ermöglichen.

10. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Steuer-/Regeleinheit (34) von der Waschtrocknermaschine (1) dazu konfiguriert ist, die Strömungsrate von dem Trocknungsstrom (22) an die Restfeuchte der Wäsche anzupassen und/oder die Strömungsrate von dem Kühlstrom (26) an die Umgebungstemperatur anzupassen.

11. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Steuer-/Regeleinheit (34) dazu konfiguriert ist, die Strömungsrate von dem Trocknungsstrom (22) und/oder die Zufuhr von der Heizeinheit (21) als eine Funktion von der Umgebungstemperatur zu steuern/regeln und einzustellen, um den Trocknungsstrom (22) an die Wärmeabsorptionskapazität von der Umgebung anzupassen, in welcher die Waschtrocknermaschine (1) arbeitet.

12. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei beide Elektromotoren (18, 24) von den zwei Saugeinheiten (17, 18; 23, 24) Motoren mit veränderlicher Geschwindigkeit sind.

13. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei die zweite Saugeinheit (23, 24) mit dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) durch eine diagonale Leitung (41) verbunden ist, welche einen Öffnungsabschnitt (42) hat, welcher zu einer Längsseite von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) weist und sich mehr als der Hälfte längs der Länge von dieser Längsseite erstreckt, wobei die diagonale Leitung (36) relativ zu der Richtung von den primären Kanälen (19) derart geneigt ist, dass der Kühlstrom (26) die Flächen und/oder Kanäle (20) von dem Wärmetauscher (19, 20) in einer geneigten Richtung und in einer Gegenstromrichtung relativ zu den Trocknungsströmen (22) in den primären Kanälen (19) bebläst.

14. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei der gesamte Trocknungskreis, einschließlich der ersten Saugeinheit (17, 18), des Heizmittels (21) und des Luft-zu-Luft-Wärmetauschers (19, 20) und die zweite Saugeinheit (23, 24) von dem Kühlkreis mit einer Behälter-Ballasteinheit von der Maschine (1) verbunden sind, um sich zusammen mit der Behälter-Ballasteinheit zu bewegen.

15. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei die Elektroventile (6, 7) zwei Elektroventile umfassen, welche parallel angeordnet sind und mithilfe eines gemeinsamen Einlasskanals (36) versorgt werden, wobei jedes Elektroventil (6, 7) seinen eigenen mit der Waschmittelschale (12) verbundenen Auslasskanal (37, 38) hat und im Stande ist, unabhängig voneinander gesteuert/geregelt zu werden,
wobei die Auslasskanäle (37, 38) derart konfiguriert sind, dass sie einen Schnittpunkt von den Strömen definieren, welche von den ersten (37) und zweiten (38) Auslasskanälen zugeführt werden, um im Stande zu sein, die drei separaten Ströme wie folgt zuzuführen:

- einen ersten Einzelstrom in der Richtung von dem ersten Auslasskanal (37);

- einen zweiten Einzelstrom in der Richtung von dem zweiten Auslasskanal (38);

- einen dritten gekreuzten Strom in einer resultierenden Richtung von den ersten und zweiten Richtungen an dem Kreuzungspunkt von den zwei Einzelströmen, um zwei Fächer von der Waschmittelschale (12) und den Flusenspülkanal (27) in einer gesteuerten/geregelten und unabhängigen Weise zu versorgen.

16. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei ein zusätzliches drittes Fach von der Waschmittelschale (12) gleichzeitig mit dem Flusenspülkanal (27) versorgt werden kann

17. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach Anspruch 16, wobei das dritte Fach (10) von dem Flusenspülkanal (27) abzweigt oder umgekehrt, oder das dritte Fach (10) stromaufwärts von dem Flusenspülkanal (27) in Reihe angeordnet ist.

18. Waschtrocknermaschine (1) nach Anspruch 16, wobei der Flusenspülkanal (27) mittels des gekreuzten Stroms versorgt werden kann, wenn beide Elektroventile (6, 7) geöffnet sind, und der gemeinsame Einlasskanal (36) ein Einlass-Passiermittel (39) hat, welches den maximalen Strömungsratewert in diesem Einlasskanal (36) definiert, und jedes von den Elektroventilen (6, 7) ein Auslass-Passiermittel (40) umfasst, welches den maximalen Strömungsratewert in jedem von diesen Auslasskanälen (37, 38) definiert, welcher niedriger ist als die maximale Einlassströmungsrate, so dass die Strömungsrate von dem Flusenspülstrom (28) höher ist als die Strömungsrate von dem Einzelstrom von jedem Auslasskanal (37, 38), wenn ein einzelnes Elektroventil (6, 7) geöffnet ist.

Revendications

1. Machine à laver séchante (1) pour le lavage et le séchage de linge, comprenant :

- une cuve de lavage (3) apte à contenir le liquide de lavage ;

- un panier (5) pouvant recevoir le linge et étant supporté avec possibilité de rotation dans la cuve de lavage (3) ;

- un système d'alimentation en eau de lavage (6, 7, 12) avec plusieurs trajets d'écoulement de lavage partant d'une ou plusieurs électrovannes d'alimentation (6, 7) et passant à travers des compartiments (8, 9, 10) correspondants d'un plateau à détergents (12) jusqu'à la cuve de lavage (3), les flux de lavage le long desdits itinéraires d'écoulement de lavage pouvant être ajustés sélectivement à l'aide desdites une ou plusieurs électrovannes (6, 7) ;

- un circuit de séchage (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) avec une première unité d'aspiration (17, 18), un échangeur de chaleur air-air (19, 20) et une unité de chauffage (21) qui communiquent les uns avec les autres au moyen d'une conduite de séchage (16), lequel circuit de séchage est apte à amener un flux d'air de séchage (22) à travers ledit panier (5),

- un circuit de refroidissement (23, 24, 25, 20, 35) avec une deuxième unité d'aspiration (23, 24) et ledit échangeur de chaleur air-air (19, 20), lequel circuit de refroidissement est apte à admettre un flux d'air de refroidissement (26) dans l'environnement et à le souffler vers l'échangeur de chaleur air-air (19, 20) afin de refroidir ce dernier,

- une conduite de rinçage des peluches (27) configurée pour acheminer un flux de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) vers le circuit de séchage afin d'éliminer les peluches qui s'y trouvent,

caractérisée en ce que ladite conduite de rinçage des peluches (27) se ramifie à partir d'au moins un des trajets d'écoulement de lavage (6, 7, 12) de telle sorte que ledit flux de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) peut être amené sélectivement au moyen d'au moins une desdites électrovannes (6, 7) avec ledit trajet d'écoulement de lavage (6, 7, 12),
la conduite de rinçage des peluches (27) étant raccordée au circuit de séchage dans une partie d'extrémité supérieure (32) de l'échangeur de chaleur (19,20) et en aval de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) par rapport au sens du flux d'air de séchage (22) et une ou plusieurs conduites primaires (19) de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) sont orientées de telle manière que le flux de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) amené par une buse de pulvérisation (29) dans la partie d'extrémité supérieure (32) de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) passe à travers lesdites conduites primaires (19) de haut en bas à contre-courant du flux d'air de séchage (22) dans lesdites conduites primaires (19),
et caractérisée en outre en ce qu'une ouverture d'aspiration (30) formée dans une partie inférieure de la paroi arrière (31) de la cuve de lavage (3) relie l'intérieur de la cuve de lavage (3) à une extrémité inférieure de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) de telle manière que le flux de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) nettoie les conduites primaires (19) et emporte les peluches à traves ladite ouverture d'aspiration (30) vers le fond (13) de la cuve de lavage, d'où les peluches sont évacuées en même temps que l'eau de rinçage des peluches et que le condensat.

2. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication 1, comprenant des moyens d'apport (29) du flux de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) qui sont configurés pour amener le liquide de rinçage des peluches à travers les conduites primaires (19) de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20).

3. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle lesdits moyens d'apport (29) du flux de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) comprennent des moyens pour augmenter la pression d'écoulement.

4. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) est disposé entre une paroi arrière (31) de la cuve de lavage (3) et une paroi arrière de l'habillage (2).

5. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ledit circuit de séchage n'est pas muni de filtres à peluches.

6. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle l'échangeur de chaleur air-air (19, 20) est configuré comme une batterie ayant la forme approximative d'un parallélépipède aplati dans le sens axial du panier (5) et élargi dans le sens latéral et dans laquelle l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) comprend une cavité au niveau des moyens d'entraînement produisant le mouvement de rotation du panier (5).

7. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant une unité de commande (34) qui est configurée de telle façon que pendant au moins une étape du cycle de séchage, le flux de rinçage des peluches est activé de manière séquentielle.

8. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle une unité de commande de la machine à laver séchante est configurée de telle manière que le flux de rinçage des peluches n'est activé automatiquement que pendant les cycles de lavage et/ou de rinçage.

9. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle les unités d'aspiration (17, 18 ; 23, 24) pour le flux de séchage (22) et le flux de refroidissement (26) peuvent être commandées et contrôlées indépendamment par une unité de commande (34) afin de permettre une variation indépendante du débit des différents flux (22, 26).

10. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle l'unité de commande (34) de la machine à laver séchante (1) est configurée pour adapter le débit du flux de séchage (22) à l'humidité résiduelle du linge et/ou le débit du flux de refroidissement (26) à la température ambiante.

11. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle l'unité de commande (34) est configurée de façon à commander et ajuster le débit du flux de séchage (22) et/ou l'alimentation de l'unité de chauffage (21) en fonction de la température ambiante afin d'adapter le flux de séchage (22) à la capacité d'absorption de chaleur de l'environnement dans lequel la machine à laver séchante (1) fonctionne.

12. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle les deux moteurs électriques (18, 24) des deux unités d'aspiration (17, 18 ; 23, 24) sont des moteurs à vitesse variable.

13. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite deuxième unité d'aspiration (23,24) est reliée à l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) au moyen d'un tuyau en diagonale (41) dont la section d'ouverture (42) fait face à un coté longitudinal de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) et s'étend sur plus de la moitié de la longueur de ce côté longitudinal, ledit tube en diagonale (36) étant incliné par rapport à la direction des conduites primaires (19) de telle manière que le flux de refroidissement (26) passe sur les surfaces et/ou les conduites (20) de l'échangeur de chaleur (19, 20) dans une direction oblique et à contre-courant des flux de séchage (22) dans les conduites primaires (19).

14. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle l'ensemble du circuit de séchage, y compris la première unité d'aspiration (17, 18), les moyens de chauffage (21) et l'échangeur de chaleur air-air (19, 20) et la deuxième unité d'aspiration (23, 24) du circuit de refroidissement sont reliés à une unité de lest de cuve de la machine (1), de manière à bouger avec ladite unité de lest de cuve.

15. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle lesdites électrovannes (6, 7) comprennent deux électrovannes disposées en parallèle et alimentées au moyen d'une conduite d'entrée commune (36), chaque électrovanne (6, 7) possédant sa propre conduite de sortie (37, 38) reliée au plateau à détergents (12) et pouvant être contrôlée indépendamment des autres,
lesdites conduites de sortie (37, 38) étant configurées de manière à définir un point d'intersection des flux qui sont amenés aux première (37) et deuxième (38) conduites de sortie, de façon à pouvoir fournir les trois flux suivants séparés :

- un premier flux dans la direction de la première conduite de sortie (37),

- un deuxième flux dans la direction de la deuxième conduite de sortie (38),

- un troisième flux croisé dans une direction résultante des première et deuxième directions au point d'intersection des deux flux afin d'alimenter deux compartiments du plateau à détergents (12) et la conduite de rinçage des peluches (27) de manière contrôlée et indépendante.

16. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication précédente, dans laquelle un troisième compartiment supplémentaire du plateau à détergents (12) peut être alimenté en même temps que la conduite de rinçage des peluches (27).

17. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication 16, dans laquelle ledit troisième compartiment (10) se ramifie à partir de la conduite de rinçage des peluches (27) ou vice versa, ou bien ledit troisième compartiment (10) est disposé en série en amont de la conduite de rinçage des peluches (27).

18. Machine à laver séchante (1) selon la revendication 16, dans laquelle ladite conduite de rinçage des peluches (27) peut être alimentée au moyen dudit flux croisé lorsque les deux électrovannes (6, 7) sont ouvertes, et la conduite d'entrée commune (36) possède des moyens de passage d'entrée (39) définissant le débit maximal dans cette conduite d'entrée (36) et chacune des électrovannes (6, 7) comprend des moyens de passage de sortie (40) définissant le débit maximal dans chacune de ces conduites de sortie (37, 38), qui est inférieur au débit maximal de sorte que le débit de liquide de rinçage des peluches (28) est supérieur au débit du flux de chaque conduite de sortie (37, 38) lorsqu'une des électrovannes (6, 7) est ouverte.

Drawing