Description

A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine.

[0002] In washing machines, the washing program is comprised of pre-wash, main washing, rinsing and spinning steps. In washing machines, wrinkling is an important problem that emerges particularly in tightly woven cotton fabrics as a result of the washing process. The wrinkling problem arising particularly in shirts is experienced profoundly by the users.

[0003] Although wrinkle free fabrics are manufactured in order to solve the above mentioned problem in the art, solutions such as subjecting the fabrics to chemical substances during the washing process or special wrinkle prevention programs in the washing machines are developed as well.

[0004] In state of the art European Patent Application No EP1772548, a washing machine having a wrinkle prevention program is explained. In this document, by means of the wrinkle prevention program, the supply of washing water amount and the drum rotation speed are controlled for preventing wrinkling in the laundry.

[0005] In another state of the art document, the United States of America Patent Application No US20030217417, a washing machine is explained having a wrinkle prevention program wherein a method of stopping and rotating the drum at various intervals is used.

[0006] In these documents known in the technique, washing profiles are explained wherein the mechanical motion, one of the most important factors contributing to formation of wrinkles is aimed to be reduced in the washing steps. Moreover, hot steam application for removing wrinkles is also known in the technique.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine having a wrinkle prevention program that decreases the formation of wrinkles.

[0008] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a control unit that activates a wrinkle prevention program when the washing process starts which performs a washing prior to the main

washing process by intake of only the softener together with the washing liquid.

[0009] The wrinkle prevention program maintains the laundry to be washed with softener before the main washing step by intake of some amount of softener determined by the producer together with water into the drum before intake of the detergent.

[0010] The high rate of cationic surface active agents present in the softener composition diffuse into soft surfaces like textiles and forms a film layer on the surface. Thus, the fibers forming the textile are coated with the surface active agent and limit the movement of fibers with respect to each other. This minimizes the wrinkling and other textile damages (loss of strength, pilling, dimensional change etc.) formed during the washing process as a result of the fibers moving with respect to each other.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, some of the softener is used during the wrinkle prevention program and the rest during the normal washing program.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the wrinkle prevention program is automatically activated when the washing machine is operated. Thus, the wrinkle prevention program is implemented at the start of every washing process.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the wrinkle prevention program is activated when the user presses a button. Thus, the wrinkle prevention program is prevented to be performed always and only selectively activated in the washing programs required by the user.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the wrinkle prevention program is activated, the laundry is washed around 5 to 20 minutes with the softener. In this embodiment, the wrinkle prevention program is completed with the discharge of water without operating the spinning program and the normal washing starts by proceeding with the main washing step.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises a detergent dispenser having a softener compartment. In this embodiment, the softener compartment is separated into two chambers for

holding the amount of softener in each one predetermined by the producer. Thus, when the wrinkle prevention program is activated the softener in one chamber can be supplied into the drum. The softener in the other chamber can be used in the normal washing program.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises a dosage mechanism that doses the softener. Thus, the desired amount of softener can be delivered into the drum together with the washing liquid.

[0017] By means of the present invention, the wrinkles that may form in the laundry are prevented without reducing the mechanical washing effect.

[0018] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0019] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine.

[0020] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Drum

3. Control unit

4. Button

[0021] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry to be washed is emplaced (Figure 1). [0022] The washing machine (1) comprises a control unit (3) that

- activates a wrinkle prevention program wherein washing is performed by only adding softener to the washing liquid

- at the start of the washing program (prior to the main washing step). [0023] When the washing machine (1) is operated, the wrinkle prevention program is activated by the control unit (3). When the wrinkle prevention program is activated, the washing liquid (water) received from the mains supply is directed to the drum (2) together with the softener. Therefore, when the wrinkle prevention program is activated, the laundry emplaced in the drum (2) is washed with the softener added to the washing liquid for a time period determined by the producer. When the washing process is completed, water is discharged, ending the wrinkle prevention program without implementing the spinning process. After the wrinkle prevention

program is completed, the normal washing program is activated by the control unit (3) and the washing process is concluded by implementing the main washing, rinsing and spinning steps.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (3) enables some portion of the softener to be used during the wrinkle prevention program and the rest to be used during the normal washing program.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the wrinkle prevention program is automatically activated by the control unit (3) when the washing machine (1) is operated. Thus, the wrinkle prevention program is implemented at the start of every washing process without requiring any intervention from the user.

[0026] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a button (4) for selectively activating the wrinkle prevention program. When the washing machine (1) is operated, the button (4) is triggered by the user enabling the wrinkle prevention program to be activated by the control unit (3). Thus, the wrinkle prevention program is not performed at the start of every washing program and is activated at the start of the washing programs only if selected by the user.

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the time period of the wrinkle prevention program is approximately 5 to 20 minutes.

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a detergent dispenser having a softener compartment separated into two chambers. When the wrinkle prevention program is utilized, while the softener in one chamber is used, the softener in the other chamber can be used during the normal washing program.

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a softener dosage unit. Thus, the softener can be dosed at the desired time with the desired rate to be delivered into the drum (2).

[0030] By means of the present invention, the wrinkling of the laundry during the washing process is prevented.