Method for Drying Sensitive Articles

• US 20090211108A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Moschütz, Harald, Nehring, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/491
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/10 expressed as capacitance or resistance
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/62 Stopping or disabling machine operation
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/50 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of blowers

Abstract

A method for drying sensitive articles, essentially textiles made of wool, which are to be dried in the washing drum of a clothes dryer using a computer program. According to known methods for protecting sensitive articles to be dried during a drying program, the articles to be dried are introduced into a protective device which, filled with the articles to be dried, is then inserted into the washing drum before the start of the drying program. In order to prevent damage to the sensitive articles to be dried whenever the protective device is not used, a warning signal is generated prior to the start of the drying program when the protective device containing the sensitive articles to be dried is not properly fixed to the clothes dryer.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method for drying sensitive articles, in particular textiles made of wool, in the laundry drum of a tumble dryer with a control device, the method comprising the following acts:

selecting a drying program specifically for drying sensitive articles,

introducing the sensitive articles into a protective device and

attaching the protective device with the sensitive articles located therein to the tumble dryer, so that the protective device projects into the laundry drum but does not move in relation to the rotatable laundry drum,

the following acts to be carried out by the control device;

checking whether the protective device is properly attached to the tumble dryer,

checking whether damp drying is present in the laundry drum outside the protective device and

outputting a warning signal, if the drying program for drying sensitive articles is selected but the protective device has not been properly attached to the tumble dryer and not starting or terminating the drying program for drying sensitive articles, if damp drying is identified outside the protective device in the laundry drum.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the check whether damp drying is present outside the protective device in the laundry drum comprises the following acts:

introduction of at least two electrodes into the laundry drum;

application of an electrical voltage to the two electrodes;

measuring the current strength or electrical conductivity between the electrodes when the voltage is applied; and

determining that damp drying is present outside the protective device in the laundry drum if the measured current strength or conductivity exceeds a respectively predetermined threshold value.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the control facility starting the drying program for drying sensitive articles when the drying program is selected and the protective device is properly attached to the tumble dryer and also when no additional damp drying is present outside the protective device in the laundry drum.

9. A computer program with program code for a control facility of a tumble dryer wherein the program code is configured to implement a method for drying sensitive articles, in particular textiles made of wool, in the laundry drum of a tumble dryer controlled by the computer program, said method comprising the following acts:

selecting a drying program specifically for drying sensitive articles;

introducing the sensitive articles into a protective device; and

attaching the protective device with the sensitive articles located therein to the tumble dryer, so that the protective device projects into the laundry drum but does not move in relation to the rotatable laundry drum;

the control facility checking whether the protective device is properly attached to the tumble dryer;

the control facility checking whether damp drying is present in the laundry drum outside the protective device; and

the control facility outputting a warning signal if the drying program for drying sensitive articles is selected but the protective device has not been properly attached to the tumble dryer, the control facility not starting or terminating the drying program for drying sensitive articles if damp drying is identified outside the protective device in the laundry drum.

10. A tumble dryer with

a rotatable laundry drum and an operating unit, with which a drying program specifically for drying sensitive articles, which is attached to a protective device for drying sensitive articles that can be attached in the laundry drum, can be selected,

a control facility for checking whether the protective device is properly attached to the tumble dryer and a display facility, which is configured, when activated by the control facility, to output an identifiable warning signal, if the drying program specifically for drying sensitive articles is selected but the protective device is not properly attached to the tumble dryer, with the control facility being set up to execute the drying program;

the control facility checking whether the protective device is properly attached to the tumble dryer;

the control facility checking whether damp drying is present in the laundry drum outside the protective device; and

the control facility outputting a warning signal, if the drying program for drying sensitive articles is selected but the protective device has not been properly attached to the tumble dryer and not starting or terminating the drying program for drying sensitive articles, if damp drying is identified outside the protective device in the laundry drum.