In the current state of the art, washer/driers comprise a perforated drum in which the laundry to be washed is placed and which rotates in the washing tank on a horizontal or vertical axis; and blades inside the drum which enable laundry to be moved and consequently get washed and/or dried.

In washer/dryers in order for the laundry to be dried, the humidity of the air in the washer-dryer needs to be removed. The circulation of the air dehumidifying the laundry may be of open or closed-type. In the open circulation humid air is extracted from the machine through an outlet and fresh air is conveyed into the machine from another outlet and this fresh air is reheated by the heating unit and is again passed through the laundry. On the other hand, in the in the closed circulation, humid air, having left the humidity on the condenser, is heated by the heating unit and transferred to the laundry. Laundered items shed fluff due to factors such as their type, their movements inside the drum, and the air flow and heat they are exposed to. During the suction of the air and/or its discharge, the air runs through one or several filters before it is fed into the drying environment. Despite the usage of fluff filters, fluff may accumulate in the air canal or the condenser. The fluff accumulating in the filters, in the sharp points of the air canal and on the condenser need to be cleaned either by the user or automatically. Otherwise, the equipment or the system as a whole may not be able to fulfil its function. For example, during the drying operation losses of pressure in the air, increase in energy consumption, burns in the laundry due to blowing of extremely hot air, or fire where fluffs cause blockage can be seen.

The prior art document European Patent Application no. EP 0816549 discloses a filter placed in the air canal, after the washing tank outlet before the

condenser, so that it prevents the lint and fluff in the drying air to reach the fan and the condenser.

The object of this invention is to realise a washer/dryer where the amount of lint and fluff in the drying air that reaches the condenser and the air canal is reduced.

The washer/dryer designed to attain the above mentioned object is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which : Figure 1-Schematic view of a washer/dryer.

Figure 2-Schematic view of a washer/dryer with a lint collection container.

Parts shown in the figures are numbered as follows: 1. Washer/Dryer 2. Washing tank 3. Drum 4. Circulation canal 5. Temperature sensor 6. Control unit 7. Humidity sensor 8. Condenser 9. Fan 1 O. Heater 11. Washing tank outlet 12. Washing tank inlet 13. Condenser valve 14. Propeller 15. Lint collection container 16. Director

A washer/dryer (1) comprises a drum (3) where the laundry to be washed is placed, a washing tank (2) inside which the drum (3) moves, a control unit (6) which evaluates the data related to washer/dryer conditions and regulates the process, a condenser (8) which separates the humidity in the air by densification, a fan (9) which provides air circulation during the drying process, a heater (10) which provides heat energy during the drying process, a washing tank outlet (11) through which the humid air is sucked out of the washing tanlc (2), a washing tank inlet (12) where the dehumidified and heated air is conveyed into the washing tank (2), a circulation canal (4) in which the air for the drying process is circulated, a humidity sensor (7) which is placed in the circulation canal (4) and which measures the humidity of the air in the drying circulation, a temperature sensor (5) which is placed in the circulation canal (4) and which measures the temperature of the air in the drying process, a condenser valve (13) which controls that the refrigerant to be used in the condenser (8), for example water, is conveyed to the condenser (8), and a propeller (14) which is placed in the washing tank outlet (11) and which prevents some of the lint and fluff in the humid air which is sucked from the washing tank (2) to pass into to the circulation canal.

The propeller (14) is not driven by any motor. The propeller (14), being placed in the air flow path moves as a result of the air circulation created by the fan (9). As the propeller (14) turns, the propeller (14) blades trap the lint and fluff in the drying air thanks to their mobile structure.

When the washer/dryer (1) is started, the fan (9) and the heater (10) is operated, the drying air in the circulation canal (4) is heated as it passes over the heater (10) with the effect of the fan (9) and through the washing tank inlet (12) reaches the washing tanlc (2) and the drum (3). The drying air contacts the laundry in the drum (3), and returns to the circulation canal (4) through the washing tank outlet (11) while taking out some of the humidity and the lint and fluff coming off the laundry. With the effect of the air circulation obtained as a

result of the operation of the fan (9), the propeller (14) also begins to rotate.

Some of the lint and fluff in the drying air which are directed from the washing tank (2) to the circulation canal (4) via the washing tank outlet (11) with the suction of the fan (9) hold onto the propeller (14) blades. At the same time, the flow of water over the condenser (8) surface is provided by the control unit (6) which opens the condenser valve (13) and which, after keeping it open for a period determined by the manufacturer, closes it. When the drying air contacts the condenser (8) surfaces, the humidity of air is left on the condenser (8) due to a change in the temperature. This circulation of the drying air by the fan (9) is continued until the laundry reaches a desired level of dryness. The condenser (8) surface refrigeration water and the water which forms as a result of the densification of the drying air on the condenser (8) mix and turn towards the washing tank outlet (11) and reach the washing tank (2) by passing through the propeller (14). With the effect of the water, the lint and the fluff on the propeller (14) blades are removed and return to the washing tank. The lint and fluff that mix into the water this way are discharged out of the washer/dryer (1) with the discharge pump.

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises a lint collection container (15), which is placed around the propeller (14) and the washing tank outlet (11) and into which the propeller (14) blows and collects the lint and fluff in the drying air. In this embodiment, some of the lint and fluff in the drying air which are directed from the washing tank (2) to the circulation canal (4) through the washing tank outlet (11) with the suction of the fan (9) are blown to the lint collection container (15) by the propeller (14). The condenser (8) surface refrigeration water and the water which forms as a result of the densification of the drying air on the condenser (8) mix and turn towards the washing tank outlet (11) and reach the lint collection container (15) by passing through the propeller (14). The lint and fluff move with the strike of the water.

The lint and fluff that mix into the water this way are discharged out of the washer/dryer (1) with the discharge pump.

The lint collection container (15) is of a shape the width of which narrows from the washing tank (2) towards the circulation canal (4), for example is frusto conic in shape and is placed around the washing tank outlet (11). Thanks to the narrowing of its width, the lint and fluff blown by the propeller (14) which is placed at the washing tank outlet (11), can be collected into the lint collection container (15) which is outside the air circulation.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises a director (16) which is placed preferably horizontally in the circulation canal (4) and which assists in directing the water coming from the condenser (8) onto the propeller (14).

In another embodiment of the invention, the propeller (14) is activated by a motor directed by the control unit (6).

In still another embodiment of the invention, to remove the lint and fluff on the propeller (14) and to return them to the washing tank, the water is directed to the propeller (14) with a flow rate higher than that of the condenser (8) refrigeration water.

In another embodiment of the invention, the water used at the rinsing phase at the end of the washing procedure to remove the cleaning material from the laundry, is directed onto the condenser to remove the lint and fluff on the propeller (14) and to return them to the washing tank.

The lint and fluff in the drying air is prevented from reaching the condenser (8) and the circulation canal (4) thanks to the propeller (14) placed at the washing tank outlet (11). Due to the prevention of the accumulation of lint and fluff in the condenser (8) and the circulation canal (4), the longer and efficient use ofthe washer/dryer (1) is assured. The propeller (14) and lint collection container (15) are easily cleaned since no additional setup is required and can be washed with the condenser (8) refrigerant water.