Method for Operating a Laundry Washing Machine Using a Unit Dose Package and Laundry Washing Machine

• US 20170350060A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Favaro, Daniele, Del Pos, Maurizio
• Granted Patent: US 10,480,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine having a treating agents dispenser (20) provided with one or more compartments (23 a) wherein one of the compartment is suited to receive a unit dose package (DP) comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) incorporated into a water-soluble pouch (P). The treating agents dispenser (20) comprises a water conveying line having at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43) for generating at least one water jet (51, 52, 53) which hits and breaks the unit dose package (DP) inside the compartment (23a).

Claims

1. A laundry washing machine (1) comprising:

a cabinet (2) supporting a washing drum (4) adapted to receive laundry and a washing tub (3) external to said washing drum (4);

a treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) comprising one or more compartments (23a;

323a;

423) adapted to be filled with at least one treating agent, said treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) being provided with one or more water conveying lines for conveying water to said one or more compartments (23a;

323a;

423);

a supply line (18), fluidly connecting said treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) and said washing tub (3);

a control unit (11) for controlling functioning of said laundry washing machine (1);

an interface unit (16) by means of which the user may select and/or set parameters;

wherein at least a first one of said one or more compartments (23a;

323a;

423) is suited to receive a unit dose package (DP) comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) incorporated into a water-soluble pouch (P) and wherein at least a first one of said one or more water conveying lines comprises at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

341, 342, 343;

441) for generating at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) into said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) so that said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) hits said unit dose package (DP) and breaks said water-soluble pouch (P).

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) is a laminar-flow water jet (51, 52, 53;

451).

3. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

341, 342, 343;

441) generates at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) directed towards a predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) which is suited for receiving said unit dose package (DP) and/or generates at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) directed towards a predefined portion of a bottom side of said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

4. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

341, 342, 343;

441) comprises a first portion (44;

444) and a second terminal portion (45;

445) arranged downstream from the first portion (44;

444), wherein said first portion (44;

444) has a shape which narrows down from a larger cross section to a smaller cross section and wherein said second terminal portion (45;

445) has a constant, or substantially constant, cross section.

5. A machine according to any claims 2 to 4, wherein said first portion (44;

444) and said second terminal portion (45;

445) of said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

341, 342, 343;

441) generates said laminar-flow water jet (51, 52, 53;

451).

6. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first water conveying line is connectable to a water source (E, E′

) through a controllable valve and wherein said first water conveying line comprises a water tight path fluidly connecting said controllable valve and said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

341, 342, 343;

441).

7. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first water conveying line is connectable to a water source (E, E′

) through a controllable valve and wherein said first water conveying line does not comprise any air-break in the path from said controllable valve to said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

341, 342, 343;

441).

8. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first water conveying line comprises exclusively one or more of said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

441) for generating said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451), wherein said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

441) generates at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) directed towards a predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

423) which is suited for receiving said unit dose package (DP) and/or generates at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) directed towards a predefined portion of a bottom side of said first compartment (23a;

423).

9. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first water conveying line comprises exclusively one or more nozzles (41, 42, 43;

441) of said at least one nozzle (41, 42, 43;

441) for generating said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451), wherein said first water conveying line does not include any other water outlets in addition to said one or more nozzles (41, 42, 43;

441).

10. A machine according to any claims 1 to 7, wherein said first water conveying line further comprises at least one outlet (29) suitable for conveying water into said first compartment (323a) in addition to said at least one nozzle (341, 342, 343).

11. A machine according to claim 10, said at least one outlet (29) is arranged so that said water is directed towards a lateral side wall of said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

12. A machine to according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a second one of said one or more water conveying lines comprises at least one outlet (29) for conveying water into said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423), said second water conveying line being fluidly separated from said first water conveying line.

13. A machine according to claim 12, said at least one outlet (29) of said second water conveying line is arranged so that said water is directed towards a lateral side wall of said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

14. A machine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said second water conveying line comprises an air-break (37).

15. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) further comprises a stopping device (30) associated to said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) adapted for stopping said unit dose package (DP) in a predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

16. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said stopping device (30) is suited to stop said unit dose package (DP) when said unit dose package (DP) is intact while it is configured to allow the passage of treating agent released from said unit dose package (DP) after breakage of said water-soluble pouch (P).

17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein said stopping device (30) comprises at least one rib (31a, 31b) transversely arranged inside said first compartment (23a;

323a).

18. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, said treating agents dispenser (320) is connectable to a water source (E, E′

) through one or more controllable valves and wherein said treating agents dispenser (320) further comprises a flow diverter (360) arranged downstream from said one or more controllable valves for selectively and alternatively channelling the water arriving from said water source towards said one or more compartments (323a).

19. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the machine (1) further comprises a water softening device (380) for softening water to be directed to said one or more water conveying lines and/or to the washing tub (3).

20. A method for operating a laundry washing machine (1) comprising:

a cabinet (2) supporting a washing drum (4) adapted to receive laundry and a washing tub (3) external to said washing drum (4);

a treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) comprising one or more compartments (23a;

323a;

423) adapted to be filled with at least one treating agent, said treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) being provided with one or more water conveying lines for conveying water to said one or more compartments (23a;

323a;

423);

a supply line (18), fluidly connecting said treating agents dispenser (20;

120;

220;

320;

420) and said washing tub (3);

a control unit (11) for controlling functioning of said laundry washing machine (1);

an interface unit (16) by means of which a user may select and/or set parameters;

wherein said method comprises the steps of;

introducing a unit dose package (DP) comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) incorporated into a water-soluble pouch (P) into a first one of said one or more compartments which is suited to receive said unit dose package;

conveying water to said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) from a first one of said one or more water conveying lines for generating at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) into said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) so that said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) hits said unit dose package (DP) and breaks said water-soluble pouch (P) so as to release said pre-measured amount of treating agent (D).

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said step of generating at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) includes a step of generating at least one laminar-flow water jet (51, 52, 53;

451).

22. A method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein said step of generating at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) into said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) comprises directing said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) towards a predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) which is suited for receiving said unit dose package (DP) and/or directing said at least one water jet (51, 52, 53;

451) towards a predefined portion of a bottom side of said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

23. A method according to any claims 20 to 22, wherein it comprises a step of conveying an amount of flushing water into said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) to flush out said released pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) from said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) and convey it into said washing tub (3) through said supply line (18).

24. A method according to any claims 20 to 23, wherein it comprises a step of conveying an amount of flushing water into said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) to flush out said released pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) from said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) and convey it into said washing tub (3) through said supply line (18) and wherein said step of conveying an amount of flushing water is carried out through said first water conveying line.

25. A method according to any claims 20 to 24, wherein it comprises a step of conveying an amount of flushing water into said first compartment (23a;

323a) to flush out said released pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) from said first compartment (23a;

323a) and convey it into said washing tub (3) through said supply line (18) and wherein said step of conveying an amount of flushing water is carried out through a second water conveying line different from said first water conveying line.

26. A method according to any claims 22 to 25, wherein it further comprises a step of positioning said unit dose package (DP) in said predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) and/or in said predefined portion of a bottom side of said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

27. A method according to any claims 20 to 26, wherein it comprises a step of providing a stopping device (30) associated to said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) adapted for stopping said unit dose package (DP) in a predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) when said unit dose package (DP) is intact while it is configured to allow the passage of treating agent released from said unit dose package (DP) after breakage of said water-soluble pouch (P).

28. A method according to any claim 27, wherein it further comprises a step of positioning said unit dose package (DP) in abutment to said stopping device (30) at said predefined zone inside said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

29. A method according to any claims 26 to 28, wherein said positioning step comprises a step of conveying an amount of water to said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) from one of said one or more water conveying lines so that said unit dose package (DP) moves towards said predefined zone.

30. A method according to any claims 26 to 29, wherein said positioning step comprises a step of conveying an amount of water to said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423) from one of said one or more water conveying lines so that said unit dose package (DP) moves towards said predefined zone before said unit dose package breakage step of breaking said water-soluble pouch (P).

31. A method according to any claims 26 to 30, wherein said positioning step comprises a step of conveying an amount of water to said first compartment (23a;

323a) from said first water conveying line so that said unit dose package (DP) moves towards said predefined zone.

32. A method according to any claims 26 to 30, wherein said positioning step comprises a step of conveying an amount of water to said first compartment (23a;

323a) from a second water conveying line different from said first water conveying line so that said unit dose package moves towards said predefined zone.

33. A method according to any claims 29 to 32, wherein said unit dose package (DP) moves towards said predefined zone by a pushing action of said amount of water.

34. A method according to any claims 29 to 33, wherein said unit dose package (DP) moves towards said predefined zone by slipping.

35. A method according to any claims 20 to 34, wherein said breakage step is carried out if the user selects a dedicated washing program through said interface unit (16).

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the user selects said dedicated washing program by operating a selector device (16c) of said interface unit (16).

37. A method according to any claims 20 to 35, wherein said breakage step is carried out automatically upon detection of the presence of said unit dose package (DP) in said first compartment (23a;

323a;

423).

38. A method according to any claims 20 to 37, wherein said treating agent (D) is at least one of the following:

a detergent (D), a softener, a rinse additive, a fabric conditioners, a waterproofing agent, a fabric enhancer, a rinse sanitization additive, a chlorine-based additive.

39. A method according to any claims 20 to 38, wherein said pre-measured amount of treating agent (D) is powder or liquid or paste or waxy or a gel composition or a combination thereof.