WO2016162171A1

WO2016162171A1 - Laundry care device with an optical filter

Info

Publication number: WO2016162171A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/055340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinhard Bischoff
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2015-04-09
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2016-10-13
Also published as: DE102015206306A1; DE102015206306B4; EP3280837A1; PL3280837T3; ES2717003T3; CN107429468B; CN107429468A; EP3280837B1; TR201903673T4

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry care device (100) comprising a washing drum (105) and a lighting device (113) with a light source (115) for lighting an inner chamber (109) of the washing drum (105). Said lighting device (113) comprises an optical filter (119) with a colour-changing substance (121). One colour of the colour-changing substance (121) depends on a physical parameter in the inner chamber (109) of the washing drum (105), and the optical filter (119) is designed to filter one colour of the light emitted by the light source (115) by means of the colour-changing substance (121) in accordance with the physical parameter.

Description

Laundry care device with an optical filter

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with an optical filter.

In the case of laundry care appliances with a light-transparent door, the user of the laundry care appliance can penetrate through the light-transparent appliance door into the interior of the laundry detergent dispenser

Washing drum look, for example, the progress of a washing or

Check drying cycle. For this, the laundry care device must have a

Include lighting device to effectively illuminate the interior of the washing drum. During a washing or drying cycle, the appliance door is closed and the interior of the washing drum is not accessible to the user. Therefore, it is not possible for the user to obtain a physical parameter, such as a.

Temperature or humidity to check in the interior of the washing drum during the washing or drying cycle. It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care device, in which an effective determination of a physical parameter of the interior of the washing drum of the laundry care device is made possible.

This object is achieved by articles having the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the drawings, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a laundry care device with a washing drum and a lighting device with a light source for illuminating an interior of the washing drum, wherein the

A lighting device comprises an optical filter having a color-changeable substance, wherein a color of the color-changeable substance depends on a physical parameter in the interior of the washing drum, and wherein the optical filter is formed, a color of the light emitted by the light source by means of the color-changing substance in dependence to filter the physical parameter. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the user of the laundry care device of a change in a physical parameter, such as temperature or

Humidity, in the interior of the washing drum can be detected by the color change of the emitted light from the light source. Thereby, it is possible for the user to change the physical parameter from outside the laundry care appliance, e.g. through the translucent door.

So that the user can recognize laundry in the washing drum of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprises a lighting device, wherein the

Lighting device comprises a light source which emits light to the

Interior of the washing drum to light.

The illumination device comprises an optical filter which is designed to optically filter a color of the light emitted by the light source. The optical filter comprises a color-changeable substance which has a color. The optical filter filters a color of the light emitted from the light source by means of the

color-variable substance as a function of the physical parameter in the interior of the washing drum.

When the light emitted from the light source penetrates the optical filter, the optical filter absorbs light in a certain wavelength range and passes only light in a non-filtered wavelength range. In the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is filtered by the color-variable substance in the optical filter. The color-changeable substance only passes a certain wavelength range of the light emitted by the light source, this specific wavelength range corresponding to the color of the color-changeable substance which is perceived by the user of the laundry care appliance. Thus, the color of illumination of the interior of the laundry machine provided by the lighting device is determined by the color of the color-changeable substance in the optical filter.

The color-changing substance can change your color depending on a color

change physical parameters such as temperature or humidity in the interior of the washing drum. As a result, the light emitted by the light source is transmitted through filtered the optical filter such that when a change in the physical

Parameters of the interior of the laundry care device in a changed color is illuminated by the illumination device. Thus, the user of the laundry care device can close the physical parameter in the interior of the washing drum on the basis of the color of the lighting in the interior of the washing drum, without having to open the door. Thus, by the user, a control of the physical parameter during a washing or drying cycle from outside the

Laundry care device possible.

A laundry care appliance is understood to mean a device which is used for laundry care, such as e.g. a washing machine or a tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the

color-changing substance is a thermochromic substance, a hydrochrome substance, or mixtures thereof, wherein the color of the thermochromic substance of the

Temperature in the interior of the washing drum depends, and wherein the color of the hydrochrome substance depends on the humidity in the interior of the washing drum.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that by the thermochromic substance or hydrochrome substance, a change in color of the color-changing substance in

Depending on the temperature, or the humidity, is achieved in the interior of the washing drum.

Thermochromic substances may change color as the ambient temperature changes, with color change being reversible. Thus, a particular color of the thermochromic substance is directly related to the ambient temperature of the thermochromic substance. Hydrochromic substances change their color in

Dependence on the presence of water, in particular depending on the humidity of the surrounding air. Thus, a certain color is the

Hydrochrome substance directly related to the humidity of the hydrochromic substance surrounding air. The color change of the thermochromic or hydrochromic substance in the optical filter in turn leads to a change in the wavelength range filtered by the optical filter and thus to a change in the color of the light emitted by the illumination device. Thus, by the use of thermochromic or hydrochromic substances in the optical filter, effective filtering of a color of the light emitted by the light source in dependence on a physical parameter such as

Temperature, or humidity are allowed. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the

thermochromic substance rutile, zinc oxide, mercury (II) iodide, bis (diethylammonium) -tetrachlorido-cuprate (II), silver tetraiodomercurate, bixanthylidene, bianthronylidene, 3 ', 3 "-dibromothymol-sulfonphthalein or mixtures thereof the said thermochromic substances advantageous thermochromic properties in terms of optical

Have filter properties, in terms of repeatability of the color change process and in terms of the resistance of the substances at elevated temperatures. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the hydrochrome substance comprises cobalt (II) chloride, copper sulfate, eosin, fuchsin or mixtures thereof.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the mentioned hydrochromic

Substances advantageous hydrochromic properties in terms of optical

Have filter properties, in terms of repeatability of the color change process and in terms of the resistance of the substances at elevated humidity.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the light source is connected to the optical filter in a form-fitting, non-positive or cohesive manner.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective attachment of the optical filter to the light source is made possible by said compounds. The direct contact of optical filter and light source in the lighting device can be beneficial to a particularly large amount of light from the light source

radiated light through the optical filter, whereby the intensity of illumination of the interior of the washing drum can be increased.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, this comprises

Laundry-care appliance a door for closing the interior of the

Washing drum, wherein the laundry care device comprises a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is arranged between the washing drum and the appliance door, and wherein the illumination device is arranged on the sleeve. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that by arranging the

Lighting device on the cuff of the laundry care appliance, such as e.g.

Washing machine, a particularly effective lighting of the interior of the

Laundry care device is achieved. In particular, the collar may have a recess on which the illumination device is mounted to ensure effective illumination of the interior of the washing drum. The washing drum is opened on the side facing the appliance door so that the user of the

Laundry care device through the appliance door laundry in the washing drum can bring. Thus, the arranged between the washing drum and door cuff for effective attachment of the lighting device is.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, this comprises

Laundry care appliance comprises a door for closing the interior of the washing drum, wherein the appliance door, a holding element, and wherein the illumination device is arranged on the holding element.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an advantageous positioning of the. By the holding element on the laundry care equipment inside the appliance door

Lighting device is made possible in the interior of the laundry care device to ensure effective illumination of the interior of the washing drum. The holding element can in particular be a bearing plate of the laundry care appliance, e.g.

Tumble dryer, include. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the appliance door comprises a light-transparent door section.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the user of the laundry care device through the light-transparent door section of the door in the interior of the

Wash drum can look into it. The appliance door can be a light-transparent

Include door section, wherein the light transparent door section may be present regardless of the position of the illumination device in the interior of the laundry care device. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the

Lighting device a light transparent illumination portion, wherein the illumination device is adapted to illuminate the interior of the washing drum through the light transparent illumination portion, and wherein the optical filter is arranged on the light transparent illumination portion.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly effective illumination of the interior of the washing drum is achieved by the arrangement of the optical filter on the light-transparent illumination portion of the illumination device. The light-transparent illumination section of the illumination device can be arranged at a location of the illumination device, at which a particularly large

Amount of light is emitted from the illumination device. For example, the illumination device may comprise reflectors or mirrors which focus the light emitted by the light source on the light-transparent illumination section, so that a particularly advantageous illumination of the interior of the washing drum is achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device comprises the

light-transparent door section or the light-transparent lighting section a light transparent material, in particular glass or plastic.

This achieves the technical advantage of being made of glass or plastic

Materials can be produced, which have particularly advantageous, light-transparent properties. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care apparatus, the optical filter comprises a lens, wherein the lens is designed to scatter the light emitted by the light source in the interior of the washing drum. This achieves the technical advantage that the light emitted by the light source is efficiently scattered by the lens in the interior of the washing drum, whereby an optimal distribution of the radiated light in the interior of the washing drum is achieved. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device is the

Color-changeable substance in the optical filter as a solid or as in a

Solvent dissolved substance before.

This achieves the technical advantage that both a solid and a substance dissolved in a solvent are inherent as a color-changeable substance in an optical filter. If the color-changeable substance is a solid, it can be introduced directly into the material during the manufacture of the optical filter, e.g. as solid particles in plastic or glass of the optical filter, whereby a homogeneous distribution of the color-variable substance is achieved in the optical filter and accordingly advantageous filter properties of the optical filter can be ensured. If the color-changing substance is in solution, the solution may be in certain

Compartments are introduced during manufacture in the optical filter, which can also realize advantageous filter properties of the optical filter. In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the optical filter comprises a light-transparent film or a light-transparent coating, which on the illumination device, in particular on an outer side of the

Lighting device is attached. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a light transparent film or a light transparent coating on the outside of the easy

Lighting device can be fixed, for example by gluing or by spraying. Thus, the lighting device can be easily manufactured in a first step of the assembly and then the film or coating must then be applied only to the outside of the illumination device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, this comprises

Laundry care device, a signal output device for outputting a signal, wherein the laundry care device a color sensor for detecting the by the

Lighting device comprises in the interior of the washing drum radiated color, wherein the signal output device is adapted to emit a signal in response to the detected color. Thus, the technical advantage is achieved that the color sensor of the

Lighting device can detect radiated light color, and thus the

radiated color can correlate with the physical parameter. Thus, the signaling device may be dependent on the detected color and correlating

physical parameter at unfavorable parameter values, if appropriate, give a warning signal to the user of the laundry care device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for filtering a color of the light emitted from a light source of a lighting device into an interior of the washing drum of a laundry care device, in which the method comprises introducing an optical filter with a

color-variable substance into the illumination device, wherein a color of the color-variable substance depends on a physical parameter in the interior of the washing drum, and wherein the method comprises filtering a color of the light emitted by the light source by means of the color-variable substance

Dependence on the physical parameter includes.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that by the inventive

Method is achieved using the optical filter of the illumination device, an effective filtering of the color of the emitted light from the light source of the illumination device. Since the filtering action of the color-changeable substance in the optical filter of a physical parameter in the interior of the

Washing drum depends, thus, the interior of the washing drum by one of the physical parameter dependent color are illuminated by the illumination device.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry care device;

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a laundry care device with a

Lighting device with an optical filter; and

Fig. 3 method for filtering a color.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care device 100, such as e.g. a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises a storage container 101, which is also referred to as an induction bowl, and into which detergent or other liquid substances can be introduced. The laundry care device 100 comprises a device door 103 for loading the washing drum 105 of the laundry care device 100 with laundry, wherein the appliance door 103 comprises a light-transparent door section 107, through which the user of the laundry care device 100 into the interior 109 of the

Wash drum 105 can look. The washing drum 105 arranged in the interior of the laundry care appliance 100 is shown schematically in FIG. 1.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a laundry care device with a lighting device with an optical filter. 2, the interior 1 1 1 of the laundry care device 100 is shown in a sectional view. The user of the

Laundry machine 100 may open the door 103 to gain access to the interior 1 1 1 of the laundry machine 100, for example, laundry in the

To introduce washing drum 105. Due to the selected in Fig. 2 side view of the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 is not shown, since the washing drum 105 is shown only from the side. The appliance door 103 comprises a light-transparent

Door section 107 through which the user can look into the interior 109 of the washing drum 105. So that the laundry located in the washing drum 105 from outside the

Laundry care device 100 can be detected by the light transparent door portion 107 of the door 103, the laundry care device 100 comprises a lighting device 1 13 for illuminating the interior 109 of the washing drum 105th Die

Lighting device comprises a light source 1 15, such. an incandescent lamp or a light-emitting diode which emits light 1 17. The light emitted from the light source 1 15 1 17 penetrates into the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 to illuminate this. The lighting device 1 13 is advantageously oriented so that the emitted light 1 17 can illuminate the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 advantageous.

The laundry care device 100 further comprises an optical filter 1 19, which is designed to optically filter the light 1 17 emitted by the illumination device 1 13. The light source 1 15 can with the optical filter 1 19 in particular

be positively connected, positively or materially connected. The

Illuminator 1 13 may further comprise one of a light transparent material, such as e.g. Glass or plastic existing illumination portion, wherein the optical filter 1 19 is arranged on the illumination portion.

The optical filter 1 19 may be e.g. a light-transparent film or a light-transparent coating, which is attached to the illumination device 1 13, in particular on an outer side of the illumination device 1 13, attached.

The optical filter 1 19 may be e.g. a lens, wherein the lens is designed to scatter the light emitted by the illumination device 1 13 in the interior 109 of the laundry care device 100.

The optical filter 1 19 comprises an amount of a color-changeable substance 121 having a color. When the light 1 17 emitted by the illumination device 1 13 penetrates the optical filter 19, the emitted light 1 17 is filtered by the color-changeable substance 121 of the optical filter 1 19 in such a way that only certain wavelength ranges of the light 1 emitted by the light source 1 15 17 can pass through the optical filter 1 19, resulting in the color of the of

Light source 1 15 radiated light 1 17 changes. Thus, the color of illumination of the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 is determined by the properties of the color-changeable substance 121 in the optical filter 1 19. The color-changeable substance 121 in the optical filter 19 can be present as a solid or as a substance dissolved in a solvent.

The color-changeable substance 121 has color-changeable properties. As a result, the color-changeable substance 121 can change its color depending on one

change physical parameters in the interior 109 in the washing drum 105. Thus, a change of a physical parameter in the inner space 109 in the washing drum 105 may result in a changed color of the color-changing substance 121 in the optical filter 1 19, resulting in a change in the color of the illumination of the inner space 109 of the washing drum 105.

Thus, a change of a physical parameter in the inner space 109 of the washing drum 105 results in a change in the illumination color of the inner space 109 of the washing drum 105. The user of the laundry care appliance 100 can change the lighting color of the lighting of the laundry door due to a change in the color of the lighting of the laundry door Interior 109 of the washing drum 105, a change of a physical parameter in the interior 109 of the

Detecting washing drum 105.

In particular, the color-variable substance 121 comprises a thermochromic substance, a hydrochrome substance, or mixtures thereof. A thermochromic substance is a substance that can change its own color depending on the temperature in the interior of the washing drum. A hydrochromic substance is a substance that can change its own color depending on the humidity in the interior of the washing drum. Thus, a change in a physical parameter, such as a change in temperature or humidity results in a thermochromic, or in a hydrochromenous substance in a change in the color of the substance. A thermochromic substance can comprise any substance which can change its own color depending on the ambient temperature, and can in particular rutile, zinc oxide, mercury (II) iodide, bis (diethylammonium) tetrachloride cuprate (II), silver tetraiodomercurate, bixanthylidene, bianthronylidene , 3 ', 3 "- dibromothymol sulfonephthalein or mixtures thereof.

A hydrochromic substance may comprise any substance which is in

Depending on the ambient humidity can change their intrinsic color, and may in particular cobalt (l I) chloride, copper sulfate, eosin, fuchsin or mixtures thereof include.

Thus, a color change of the color-changeable substance 121 results in a change in the color of the light 1 17 emitted by the illumination device 13. Thus, the user can change a physical parameter, such as a color change.

Temperature or humidity, recognize in the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 directly on the basis of the color change of the illumination of the interior.

In a drying process in a tumble dryer, a reduced

Humidity in the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 indicate to the user that a successful laundry drying has taken place and the laundry drying can be ended.

In a washing process in a washing machine, an elevated temperature in the interior 109 of the washing drum 105 may indicate to the user that potentially delicate items of laundry in the washing drum 105 may be damaged.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a method for filtering a color. The method 200 for filtering a color of a light from a

Lighting device in an interior of the washing drum of a

Laundry-care device radiated light, includes the following steps. The first step 201 comprises introducing an optical filter with a color-changeable substance into the illumination device, wherein a color of the color-changeable substance depends on a physical parameter in the interior of the washing drum. The second step 203 includes filtering a color of the light source radiated light by means of the color-variable substance as a function of the physical parameter.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 laundry care device

101 storage tank

103 appliance door

105 washing drum

107 Light transparent door section

109 Interior of the washing drum

1 1 1 Interior of the laundry care appliance

1 13 lighting device

1 15 light source

1 17 Radiated light

1 19 Optical filter

121 Color-changeable substance

200 procedures

201 Method step: introducing an optical filter

203 Process step: filtering a color of light

Claims

1 . Laundry care appliance (100) with a washing drum (105) and a

Lighting device (1 13) with a light source (1 15) for illuminating an interior (109) of the washing drum (105), characterized in that

the illumination device (1 13) comprises an optical filter (1 19) with a color-changeable substance (121), wherein one color of the color variable

Substance (121) of a physical parameter in the interior space (109) of the

Washing drum (105) depends, and that

the optical filter (1 19) is adapted to filter a color of the light emitted by the light source (1 15) by means of the color-changeable substance (121) as a function of the physical parameter.

2. laundry care device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the color-variable substance (121) comprises a thermochromic substance, a hydrochrome substance, or mixtures thereof, wherein

the color of the thermochromic substance depends on the temperature in the interior (109) of the washing drum (105), and wherein

the color of the hydrochromic substance depends on the humidity in the interior (109) of the washing drum (105).

3. laundry care device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the thermochromic substance rutile, zinc oxide, mercury (II) iodide, bis (diethylammonium) - tetrachloride cuprate (II), silver tetraiodomercurate, Bixanthyliden, Bianthronyliden, 3 ', 3rd Dibromothymolsulfonephthalein or mixtures thereof.

4. laundry care device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the hydrochrome substance cobalt (l I) -ch lorid, copper sulfate, eosin, fuchsin or mixtures thereof comprises.

5. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source (1 15) with the optical filter (1 19) is positively, positively or materially connected.

6. laundry care device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) has a device door (103) for

Closing the interior (109) of the washing drum (105) comprises

the laundry care device (100) comprises a cuff, wherein the cuff is arranged between the washing drum (105) and the appliance door (103), and in that

the lighting device (1 13) is arranged on the sleeve.

7. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) comprises a door (103) for closing the interior (109) of the washing drum (105)

the appliance door (103) comprises a holding element, and that

the lighting device (1 13) is arranged on the holding element.

8. laundry care device (100) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the appliance door (103) comprises a light transparent door portion (107).

9. laundry-care device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the illumination device (1 13) comprises a light-transparent lighting section, wherein

the lighting device (1 13) is designed to illuminate the interior (109) of the washing drum (105) by the light-transparent lighting section, and in that

the optical filter (1 19) is arranged on the light-transparent illumination section.

10. laundry-care device (100) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the light-transparent door portion (107) or the light-transparent

Lighting section comprises a light transparent material, in particular glass or plastic.

1 1. The laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical filter (1 19) comprises a lens, wherein the lens is formed, the light emitted from the light source (1 15) in the interior (109) of the washing drum (105).

12. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the color-variable substance (121) in the optical filter (1 19) is present as a solid or dissolved in a solvent substance.

13. laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical filter (1 19) comprises a light transparent film or a light transparent coating on the illumination device (1 13), in particular on an outer side of the illumination device (13 ) is appropriate.

14, laundry care device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care device (100) is a signal output device for

Delivery of a signal, that the laundry care device (100) comprises a color sensor for detecting the color emitted by the illumination device (1 13) into the interior (109) of the washing drum (105), wherein the signal output device is designed to generate a signal as a function of the detected To give color.

15. Method (200) for filtering a color of the light emitted by a light source (1 15) of a lighting device (1 13) into an interior (109) of the washing drum (105) of a laundry care device (100), characterized in that the method ( 200)

the introduction (201) of an optical filter (1 19) with a color changeable

Substance (121) in the illumination device (1 13), wherein a color of the color-variable substance (121) of a physical parameter in the

Interior (109) of the washing drum (105) depends, and

filtering (203) a color of the light emitted by the light source (15) by means of the color-variable substance (121) in dependence on the physical parameter.