US 7,841,033 B2Granted

Method for cleaning and waterproofing textiles

AssigneeBSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH

InventorsHartmut Schaub, Ingo Schulze

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Abstract

A method for cleaning and restoring a hydrophobic effect of textiles in a domestic washing machine in which hydrophobic substances dissolved in the washing liquid are contacted with the textiles during a treatment process. A washing process for cleaning the textiles while adding a special detergent is carried out in the presence of an inflow of fresh water, and at the end thereof, the used washing liquid is pumped off. The soapy water used for the preceding process is replaced and a multi-stage rinsing process is carried out for the textiles. After termination of the rinsing process, the last rinsing water is replaced and the hydrophobic substances are added to a newly supplied amount of fresh water, and a treatment process for waterproofing the textiles is carried out in an additive-containing washing liquid and the used additive-containing washing liquid is removed without repeating the rinsing process.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for providing a hydrophobic effect for textiles in a domestic washing machine with facilities for heating a washing liquid in an outer tub and a washing drum and for controlling treatment processes, as well as with detergent chambers, of which at least one is configured to hold an individual dose of a liquid detergent, with which method water-repelling agents dissolved in the washing liquid are brought into contact with the textiles during a treatment process similar to a washing process, the method comprising the acts of:

performing a washing process for cleaning the textiles with the addition of a special detergent, which in addition to its known dirt-removing effect is also suitable for removing any detergent agents still present from the textiles, into a quantity of fresh water flowing in, and at the end the used washing liquid is pumped away;
performing a multi-stage rinsing process for the textiles to replace the respective washing liquid of the previous washing process;
performing a treatment process to waterproof the textiles while replacing the last rinsing washing liquid;
adding the water-repelling agent to a newly supplied quantity of fresh water;
filling the outer drum with a quantity of water measured for a short washing liquid for a ratio of weight of the quantity of dry textiles to weight of the quantity of water of less than 1:8;
and
heating the washing liquid to a temperature of at least 30° C. while rotating the drum to move the textiles before the water-repelling agent is added.

4 more elements

A washing machine comprising:

an outer tub for retaining a washing liquid;
a washing drum disposed within the tub and mounted for rotation;
a heater for heating the washing liquid within the outer tub;
a control facility controlling operation of the washing machine;
a detergent chamber that receives a dose of a liquid detergent including water-repelling agents and that delivers the detergent to the outer tub at least partially forming the washing liquid with dissolved water-repelling agents;
and
input means to preselect a program sequence for the washing machine, with which the program sequence operates automatically, wherein the program sequence includes:
performing a washing process for cleaning textiles in the washing drum by adding a special detergent, which in addition to having known dirt-removing effect also is suitable for removing any detergent agents still present from the textiles, into a quantity of fresh water flowing into the washing drum, wherein at an end the washing process used washing liquid is pumped away;
performing a multi-stage rinsing process for the textiles to replace the respective used washing liquid of the previous washing process;
performing a treatment process to waterproof the textiles while replacing the last rinsing washing liquid;
adding the water-repelling agents to a newly supplied quantity of fresh water;
filling the outer drum with a quantity of water measured for a short washing liquid for a ratio of weight of the quantity of dry textiles to weight of the quantity of water of less than 1:8;
and
heating the washing liquid to a temperature of at least 30° C. while rotating the drum to move the textiles before the water-repelling agent is added;
and
wherein the control facility controls the preselected program sequence automatically, as soon as a start signal is present for this purpose.

13 more elements

A domestic washing machine comprising:

an outer tub for retaining a washing liquid;
a washing drum for receiving textiles to be treated with water-repelling agents, the washing drum disposed within the tub and mounted for rotation;
a heater for heating the washing liquid within the outer tub;
a control facility that controls operation of the washing machine;
a chamber including a detergent chamber portion that receives a dose of a liquid detergent and a water-repelling agent chamber portion that receives the water-repelling agents, wherein the detergent chamber delivers the liquid detergent and the water-repelling agents to the outer tub at least partially forming a washing liquid with dissolved water-repelling agents;
and
an input device in communication with the control facility, wherein the input device, upon actuation, preselects a program sequence that automatically treats the textiles in the washing drum with the water-repelling agents, wherein the program sequence includes:
performing a washing process for cleaning the textiles in the washing drum by adding a special detergent, which in addition to having known dirt-removing effect also is suitable for removing any detergent agents still present from the textiles, into a quantity of fresh water flowing into the washing drum, wherein at an end the washing process used washing liquid is pumped away;
performing a multi-stage rinsing process for the textiles to replace the respective used washing liquid of the previous washing process;
performing a treatment process to waterproof the textiles while replacing the last rinsing washing liquid;
adding the water-repelling agents from the water-repelling agent chamber portion to a newly supplied quantity of fresh water;
filling the outer drum with a quantity of water measured for a short washing liquid for a ratio of weight of the quantity of dry textiles to weight of the quantity of water of less than 1:8;
and
heating the washing liquid to a temperature of at least 30° C. while rotating the drum to move the textiles before the water-repelling agent is added;
and
wherein the control facility automatically controls the preselected program sequence upon receipt of a start signal from the input device.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/795,304Filed 21 Nov 2005
Priority: DE 10 2005 003 69426 Jan 2005
Published: US 2008/0115294 A122 May 2008
Granted: 30 Nov 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

D06F 35/005
Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for: methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying
D06F 37/06
Adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis: ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
D06F 39/022
Devices for adding soap or other washing agents: in a liquid state
D06F
Laundering, drying, ironing, pressing or folding textile articles