Method for washing laundry in a program-controlled domestic appliance, and corresponding domestic appliance
First Claim
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1. A method for washing laundry items in a program controlled domestic laundry-care appliance, the method comprising:
- heating washing liquid present in a drum to a washing liquid temperature in accordance with a washing program using a heating unit within the appliance and controlled by a programmed controller operatively associated with the appliance;
setting a wash temperature limit value using the programmed controller, the wash temperature limit value being a function of a temperature gradient value across free washing liquid in the drum and washing liquid bound by the laundry items based on captured parameter values, the captured parameter values being determined by a sensor system operatively associated with the appliance and, the captured parameter values being specific to the laundry items and/or the appliance;
determining an energy input required to achieve the wash temperature limit value based on the captured parameter values;
distributing the energy input to the heating unit over different phases of the wash program by achieving predetermined temperature peaks; and
applying energy to the heating unit before the washing liquid temperature drops below a lower temperature limit value.
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Abstract
A method for washing laundry in a program-controlled domestic laundry-care appliance including the steps of heating washing liquid present in the tub and heating the washing liquid to a specific washing temperature set as a function of determined parameter values that are specific to the laundry being washed and/or the appliance.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for washing laundry items in a program controlled domestic laundry-care appliance, the method comprising:
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heating washing liquid present in a drum to a washing liquid temperature in accordance with a washing program using a heating unit within the appliance and controlled by a programmed controller operatively associated with the appliance; setting a wash temperature limit value using the programmed controller, the wash temperature limit value being a function of a temperature gradient value across free washing liquid in the drum and washing liquid bound by the laundry items based on captured parameter values, the captured parameter values being determined by a sensor system operatively associated with the appliance and, the captured parameter values being specific to the laundry items and/or the appliance; determining an energy input required to achieve the wash temperature limit value based on the captured parameter values; distributing the energy input to the heating unit over different phases of the wash program by achieving predetermined temperature peaks; and applying energy to the heating unit before the washing liquid temperature drops below a lower temperature limit value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
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10. A program-controlled domestic appliance for washing laundry items via a washing liquid, the domestic appliance comprising:
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a drum to retain washing liquid; a heating unit within the appliance to heat a predetermined amount of the washing liquid in the drum to a wash temperature; a sensor system to capture parameter values that are specific to laundry items and/or the appliance; and a programmed controller programmed to control the heating unit as a function of a temperature gradient value across free washing liquid the drum and washing liquid bound by the laundry items based on the captured parameter values to heat washing liquid its the drum to the wash temperature and the controller programmed to calculate an energy input required by the heating unit to achieve a mean wash temperature based on the captured parameter values, distribute the energy input to the heating unit over different phases of a wash program, calculate predetermined temperature peaks, and apply energy before the temperature drops below a minimum predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification