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CN-114763668-B - Clothes dryer provided with steam generator

CN114763668BCN 114763668 BCN114763668 BCN 114763668BCN-114763668-B

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry dryer comprising a cabinet, a laundry treatment compartment, a drying system comprising an air duct, an air moving device, an air heating device, a steam generator comprising a main liquid reservoir, and a liquid heating device generating heat to heat liquid in the main liquid reservoir to generate steam to be delivered to the laundry treatment compartment, a liquid loading unit comprising a liquid receiving element having an outlet opening, and a filter arranged upstream of the outlet opening, wherein the liquid loading unit comprises a lid movable relative to the liquid receiving element between a closed position in which the lid at least partially overlaps the filter preventing access to the latter, and an open position allowing access to the filter by a user, wherein the liquid loading unit comprises a liquid loading opening allowing manual loading of liquid in the liquid receiving element even when the lid is in the closed position.

Inventors

  • Alberto Bisson
  • Alberto Quaroni
  • Gabriele Misio

Assignees

  • 伊莱克斯家用电器股份公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20220114
Priority Date
20210114

Claims (14)

  1. 1. A laundry dryer (1), comprising: -a housing (2); -a laundry treatment compartment (5), said laundry treatment compartment (5) being mounted within said housing (2), laundry to be treated being loadable in said laundry treatment compartment (5); -a drying system (9), the drying system (9) comprising an air duct (10), the air duct (10) passing through and comprising the laundry treatment compartment (5), an air moving device (11), the air moving device (11) in operation generating an air flow (12) through the air duct (10), an air heating device (13), the air heating device (13) being positioned at least partially within the air duct (10) so as to heat the air flow (12) before the air flow (12) passes through the laundry treatment compartment (5); -a steam generator (18), the steam generator (18) comprising a main liquid reservoir (19) in which liquid can be loaded, and a liquid heating device (20), the liquid heating device (20) being operable to generate heat to heat liquid contained in the main liquid reservoir (19) and/or from the main liquid reservoir (19) so as to generate steam, the steam being delivered to the laundry treatment compartment (5) via a steam delivery conduit (21), the steam delivery conduit (21) fluidly connecting the steam generator (18) to the laundry treatment compartment (5); -a liquid loading unit (23), the liquid loading unit (23) comprising a liquid receiving element (24), the liquid receiving element (24) having an outlet opening (25) fluidly connected to the main liquid reservoir (19), and a filter (26), the filter (26) being arranged upstream of the outlet opening (25) or at the outlet opening (25) for filtering liquid flowing out of the liquid receiving element (24) via the outlet opening (25), Wherein the liquid loading unit (23) comprises a cover (27), the cover (27) being movable relative to the liquid receiving element (24) between a closed position in which the cover (27) at least partially overlaps the filter (26) preventing access to the filter (26) by a user and an open position allowing access to the filter (26) by a user, Wherein the liquid loading unit (23) comprises one or more liquid loading openings (28, 31) allowing liquid to be manually loaded in the liquid receiving element (24), even when the lid (27) is in the closed position, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The laundry dryer (1) comprises a box-like seat (32) accessible from outside the housing (2) to the box-like seat (32) and the box-like seat (32) is adapted to removably receive a drawer (34), the box-like seat (32) comprising a receptacle (35) in a bottom region (320) of the box-like seat (32), the receptacle (35) being fluidly connected to the main liquid reservoir (19), and the liquid loading unit (23) being at least partially housed in the receptacle (35) in a permanent or removable manner.
  2. 2. Laundry dryer (1) according to claim 1, wherein said one or more liquid loading openings (28, 31) comprise a first liquid loading opening (28), said first liquid loading opening (28) being provided at said liquid receiving element (24) and being fluidly connected to said outlet opening (25) via a fluid path (29), said fluid path (29) bypassing said cover (27) and passing through said filter (26).
  3. 3. Laundry dryer (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first liquid loading opening (28) is provided in said liquid receiving element (24).
  4. 4. A laundry dryer (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said liquid receiving element (24) comprises a hopper (30), said outlet opening (25) and said first liquid loading opening (28) being provided in said hopper (30), wherein said outlet opening (25) and said first liquid loading opening (28) are fluidly connected to each other.
  5. 5. A laundry dryer (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said liquid loading unit (23) comprises a plurality of liquid loading openings (28, 31), said plurality of liquid loading openings (28, 31) comprising one or more second liquid loading openings (31) provided in said cover (27), liquid being loaded in said liquid receiving element (24) through said cover (27) via said one or more second liquid loading openings (31) and going to said outlet opening (25) when said cover (27) is in said closed position.
  6. 6. A laundry dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a sealing element (36), said sealing element (36) being arranged in said housing (35) or in a portion (240) of said liquid loading unit (23) configured to be positioned in said housing (35) so as to be interposed between said housing (35) and said portion (240) to achieve a watertight coupling thereof.
  7. 7. A laundry dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, comprising a moisture condensing means (14), said moisture condensing means (14) being positioned at least partially within said air duct (10) downstream of said laundry treatment compartment (5) so as to condense and remove moisture contained in said air flow (12), said moisture condensing means (14) being fluidly connected to a condensate container (140), said condensate container (140) receiving condensate removed from said air flow (12) by said moisture condensing means (14).
  8. 8. Laundry dryer (1) according to claim 7, comprising a pumping system (37), said pumping system (37) fluidly connecting said condensate container (140) to said liquid loading unit (23), said pumping system (37) comprising a pump (38), said pump (38) sucking liquid from said condensate container (140) and pumping said liquid to said liquid loading unit (23) via a line system (39) having a condensate outlet (40) provided at said liquid loading unit (23), and/or to a liquid collecting reservoir (41) of said laundry dryer (1), said liquid collecting reservoir (41) being fluidly connected to said line system (39).
  9. 9. Laundry dryer (1) according to claim 8, wherein said condensate outlet (40) is provided at said liquid loading unit (23) upstream of said filter (26).
  10. 10. A laundry dryer (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said liquid loading unit (23) comprises an overflow opening (43) for discharging liquid contained in said liquid loading unit (23) and exceeding a pre-fixed level to the outside of said liquid loading unit (23) in order to prevent backflow of said liquid through said one or more liquid loading openings (28, 31).
  11. 11. Laundry dryer (1) according to claim 10, wherein said overflow opening (43) is comprised in said cover (27) and/or in said liquid receiving element (24), or said overflow opening (43) is defined by a gap between said cover (27) and said liquid receiving element (24).
  12. 12. Laundry dryer (1) according to claim 7, wherein said liquid loading unit (23) comprises an overflow opening (43) for letting out liquid contained in said liquid loading unit (23) and exceeding a pre-fixed level to the outside of said liquid loading unit (23) in order to prevent backflow of said liquid through said one or more liquid loading openings (28, 31), and said overflow opening (43) is fluidly connected to said condensate container (140) such that liquid exiting said overflow opening (43) is discharged to said condensate container (140).
  13. 13. A laundry dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said cover (27) is hinged to said liquid receiving element (24) so as to be moved by rotation from said closed position to said open position and vice versa, or said cover (27) is slidably connected to said liquid receiving element (24) so as to be moved from said closed position to said open position and vice versa by sliding on said liquid receiving element (24).
  14. 14. Method for loading liquid to be converted into steam in a laundry dryer (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13, the method comprising the steps of first removing the drawer (34) from the box-like seat (32) and then loading liquid to be converted into steam in the liquid loading unit (23) of the laundry dryer (1) via one or more of the one or more liquid loading openings (28, 31) of the liquid loading unit (23) while the lid (27) is in the closed position.

Description

Clothes dryer provided with steam generator Technical Field The present invention relates to a laundry dryer provided with a steam generator. Background Known laundry dryers, such as tumble dryers or washer-dryers (i.e. laundry devices that can wash and dry laundry), typically comprise a housing or a housing portion containing a laundry treatment compartment in which laundry to be treated may be loaded. In tumble dryers and washer-dryers, the laundry treatment compartment is typically a rotatable drum housed inside a casing and rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation, which may be substantially horizontal or slightly inclined with respect to a horizontal surface on which the laundry dryer is configured to be located (in so-called "horizontal axis" laundry dryers), or substantially vertical (in so-called "horizontal axis" laundry dryers). In known tumble dryers, the drum is typically rotatably supported in the housing by rollers that pivot to a support structure that is stationary relative to the housing. In the known washer-dryers, the housing also accommodates a washing tub, which is suspended to the housing, typically by means of springs and a pourer, in which the drum is rotatably contained. In other known laundry dryers, the laundry treatment compartment is stationary relative to the housing, in which case the laundry dryer, commonly referred to as a "drying cabinet", is a heated cabinet in which the laundry may be suspended for being dried. The known laundry dryer further comprises a drying system comprising an air duct passing through and comprising the laundry treatment compartment, an air moving device (typically a fan or blower) which in operation generates an air flow through the air duct, and an air heating device (e.g. an electric heater, a heat pump system, a gas burner) positioned at least partially within the air duct so as to heat the air flow before it passes through the laundry treatment compartment. In some known laundry dryers, the air duct is arranged in such a way that after the air flow is discharged to the external environment after passing through the laundry treatment compartment, optionally after at least partial removal of moisture in a condensing device (e.g. an air heat exchanger). In other known laundry dryers, the air duct is arranged in such a way that the air flow circulates through the laundry treatment compartment, in which case the moisture-containing air leaving the laundry treatment compartment is dehumidified in a moisture condensing means, and then the air flow is reheated by an air heating means before being pumped into the laundry treatment compartment again. Some known laundry dryers also include a steam generator to allow steam to be generated and released within the interior volume of the laundry treatment compartment so as to contact and exert one or more beneficial effects (e.g., sanitizing and/or anti-creasing effects, etc.) on the laundry contained in the laundry treatment compartment. It is emphasized that in the present application the word "steam" refers to the gas or vapor into which water or a liquid comprising water mixed with one or more additives, such as fragrances, changes upon boiling. The steam generator generally comprises a main liquid reservoir in which liquid (i.e. water or water mixed with one or more additives) may be loaded, and liquid heating means operable to generate heat to heat the liquid so as to generate steam which is delivered to the laundry treatment compartment via a steam delivery conduit fluidly connecting the steam generator to the laundry treatment compartment. In some known laundry dryers, the main liquid reservoir is a water heater which is housed within a housing external to the laundry treatment compartment, in which water heater liquid can be loaded and heated, and the liquid heating means is an electric heater arranged in the water heater to heat such liquid and generate steam which is driven towards and released into the internal volume of the laundry treatment compartment via a steam delivery duct. In other known laundry dryers, the liquid heating means is external to the main liquid reservoir and is arranged to heat the liquid after it leaves the main liquid reservoir, for example the liquid heating means may be an electric heater placed in a line fluidly connecting the main liquid reservoir to the laundry treatment compartment in order to heat the liquid leaving the main liquid reservoir and passing through such a line and convert the liquid into steam which is released into the laundry treatment compartment. In some known laundry dryers, liquid to be converted into steam is loaded into a main liquid reservoir via a liquid loading unit comprising a liquid receiving element having an outlet opening fluidly connected to the main liquid reservoir, and a filter arranged upstream or at the outlet opening for filtering liquid flowing out of the liquid receiving element via the outlet opening. Such a known solution