CN114929961A

CN114929961A - Washing machine with improved washing performance

Info

Publication number: CN114929961A
Application number: CN201980102188.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 维托里奥·加洛托; 安德烈亚·孔塔里尼; 毛里齐奥·德尔波斯; 马可·斯帕达; 安吉洛·乐佩拉
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2019-11-18
Filing date: 2019-11-18
Publication date: 2022-08-19
Also published as: WO2021098944A1; AU2019475326A1; US20220403581A1; EP4061992A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (10) comprising: a chassis (20); a washing tub (30) accommodated inside the cabinet (20); a drum (50) rotatably disposed inside the tub (30); an electrically powered liquid supply device (200) mounted in/on the drum (50) and configured for dispensing liquid (3) into an interior region of the drum (30). The invention also relates to a method for operating such a washing machine (10), comprising: -loading laundry into the drum (50); -activating the electrically powered liquid supply device (200) for dispensing liquid (3) into the inner region of the drum (30).

Description

Washing machine with improved washing performance

The present invention relates to a washing machine having improved washing performance.

Nowadays, washing machines, including "simple" washing machines (i.e. washing machines capable of washing and rinsing only the laundry) and washing-drying machines (or "washer-dryers", i.e. washing machines that can also dry the laundry), generally comprise a casing (typically called cabinet) provided with a loading/unloading door that allows access to a washing tub housing a rotating perforated drum in which the laundry to be washed (or, in the case of a washer-dryer, also the laundry to be dried) can be loaded.

Generally, the drum is provided with one or more lifters (also called lifters, or ribs, or diverters) adapted to improve agitation of the laundry during rotation of the drum; the lifters are substantially prismatic elements projecting from the inner faces of the lateral faces of the drum and positioned so that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the drum.

Water and washing and/or rinsing additives (i.e. detergents, softeners, bleaching, etc.) are supplied to the washing tub and, therefore, to the drum housed therein, through a liquid supply circuit connectable to a water mains present outside the machine; after a washing or rinsing phase, the washing/rinsing liquid (i.e. clean water, or a solution of water and washing and/or rinsing additives) is drained from the tub through a drain circuit.

The liquid supply circuit of known laundry washing machines generally comprises an additive casing associated with the cabinet, which additive casing houses a removable drawer provided with a plurality of compartments adapted to be filled with washing and/or rinsing additives; water from a water manifold connected to the liquid supply circuit is selectively brought into one or more compartments of the drawer (e.g., by controlling a suitable solenoid water inlet valve) to contact and mix with the additive contained therein.

The wash/rinse solution (i.e., water mixed with the wash and/or rinse additives) is then delivered to the wash tub through a conduit fluidly connecting the additive housing and the wash tub.

It is even possible to send clean water to the washing tub, for example for rinsing the laundry during a rinsing phase; this may be achieved, for example, by introducing clean water from a water mains into the empty compartment of the drawer, from which it enters the tub via the aforementioned conduit.

In some known washing machines, a conduit carries the washing/rinsing liquid to the bottom of the tub, where it collects until a certain level is reached, at which it can enter the drum via the porous surface of the drum.

In some known washing machines, the conduit sprays the washing/rinsing liquid onto the porous side of the drum, from which the washing/rinsing solution enters the drum.

In some known laundry washing machines, in particular of the so-called "front-opening" type, in which a cylindrical drum (rotatable about a horizontal or slightly inclined axis) and a cylindrical tub are opened to load/unload the laundry at the frontal base thereof, the outlet of the duct being positioned to enter the loading/unloading opening of the tub and being arranged so as to spray washing/rinsing liquid directly inside the loading/unloading opening of the drum, in order to reach the laundry contained therein.

Some known washing machines are also provided with a recirculation circuit adapted to draw the washing/rinsing liquid from the bottom of the tub and refill the upper region of the tub with recirculated washing/rinsing liquid.

However, the known solutions mentioned above have some drawbacks.

Firstly, in this known solution, there is a risk that the washing/rinsing liquid does not reach all the laundry contained in the drum effectively.

For example, in known solutions in which the washing/rinsing liquid enters the drum through the perforated walls of the drum, the perforated walls obstruct the path of the washing/rinsing liquid towards the laundry contained in the drum, and there is a risk that not all the laundry is effectively wetted with liquid, in particular in the portion of the laundry located in the central portion of the drum.

In solutions in which the washing/rinsing liquid is sprayed directly towards the loading/unloading opening of the drum, the portion of the laundry positioned entering the loading/unloading opening obstructs the path of the washing/rinsing liquid towards the portion of the laundry located in the interior and in the rear of the drum.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laundry washing machine which does not present the above-mentioned problems and which allows to treat all or at least most of the laundry contained in the drum with washing and/or rinsing liquid in an efficient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain a laundry washing machine that is reliable and hardly subject to wear.

The applicant has found that by providing a laundry washing machine comprising an electrically powered liquid supply device mounted in/on the drum of the laundry washing machine and configured for dispensing liquid into the interior region of the drum, such liquid can be supplied at the exact location of the laundry, thereby reducing the risk of some laundry not being effectively wetted by the liquid.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electrically powered liquid supply is powered by a wireless power receiver unit mounted in/on the drum, and power is wirelessly transmitted to the electrically powered liquid supply by a power transmitter unit associated with the cabinet and/or tub separately from the drum; in this way, sliding contacts (and associated wear problems) for transmitting power between the non-rotating part of the washing machine (cabinet or washing tub) and the drum can be avoided, and thus the reliability of the washing machine is improved.

In particular, the above object is solved by a laundry washing machine comprising: a chassis; a washing tub disposed inside the cabinet; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub; an electrically powered liquid supply mounted in/on the drum and configured to dispense liquid into an interior region of the drum.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electrically powered liquid supply is configured to draw liquid from an area of the tub outside the drum and distribute the liquid into an inner area of the drum.

In another advantageous embodiment, the electrically powered liquid supply is configured to draw liquid from the interior region of the drum and distribute the liquid into different interior regions of the drum.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry washing machine comprises a reservoir mounted in/on the drum, and the electrically powered liquid supply device is configured for drawing liquid from the reservoir and dispensing the liquid into the interior region of the drum.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electrically powered liquid supply device is or comprises a pump.

Preferably, the washing machine includes at least one lifter, which is hollow, protruding from an inner side of the drum toward an inside of the drum.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electrically powered liquid supply device is at least partially disposed within the riser.

Preferably, the electrically powered liquid supply is located entirely within the riser.

In an advantageous embodiment, the pump is placed inside the riser.

In an advantageous embodiment, the discharge side of the pump is connected to a discharge conduit configured for pumping liquid out of the riser.

In an advantageous embodiment, the discharge side of the pump is connected to a discharge conduit configured for pumping liquid into the lifter, and the lifter comprises one or more porous outlet walls through which liquid can leave the lifter and enter the inner region of the drum.

In an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir is placed in the riser.

In an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir coincides with the riser or a part thereof.

In an advantageous embodiment, the laundry washing machine comprises a control unit which manages the operation of the laundry washing machine, and the electric liquid supply device is controlled by the control unit, the electric liquid supply device being operatively connected to the control unit.

Preferably, the electrically powered liquid supply is operatively connected to the control unit by a data transmission system.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electrically powered liquid supply is controlled by a dedicated control system mounted in/on the drum.

Preferably, the dedicated control system is operatively connected to and controlled by the control unit.

In an advantageous embodiment, the suction side of the pump is fluidly connected to the interior of the tub by a suction pipe, and the control unit is configured for activating the pump when the angular position of the drum is such that the suction pipe is in contact with the liquid contained in the tub.

In an advantageous embodiment, the suction side of the pump is fluidly connected to the interior of the tub by a suction pipe, and the dedicated control system is configured for activating the pump when the angular position of the drum is such that the suction pipe is in contact with the liquid contained in the tub.

In an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir is manually and/or automatically refillable.

Preferably, the liquid is water or water mixed with a washing and/or rinsing agent.

Advantageously, the laundry washing machine comprises a wireless power transmitter unit associated with the cabinet and/or the washing tub separately from the drum, and arranged for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiver unit mounted in/on the drum,

wherein the wireless power receiver unit is configured for supplying power to the electrically powered additive processing device.

Preferably, the wireless power receiver unit is arranged for supplying power to the electrically powered device.

Preferably, the electrically powered additive processing device is wired to the wireless power receiver unit.

Preferably, the wireless power transmitter unit is electrically connected to an electrical system of the washing machine.

Preferably, the wireless power transmitter unit is electrically connected to an electrical system of the washing machine by wire.

Advantageously, the wireless power transmitter unit is mounted in/on the washing tub.

Advantageously, the power transmitter unit and the power receiver unit are positioned opposite each other, fixed to the washing tub and to the drum, respectively, parallel to each other and to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drum.

Preferably, the wireless power transmitter unit comprises a transmission coil generating a magnetic field, and the wireless power receiver unit comprises a receiving coil generating power using the magnetic field generated by the transmission coil and supplying the generated power to the electrically powered additive processing device.

Advantageously, the transmission coil and the reception coil are aligned, centered and parallel to each other and parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum.

Advantageously, the common radial dimension of the transmission coil and the reception coil is substantially equal to the drum external radius and is spaced apart in the axial direction by a distance less than its radius.

Preferably, the transmission coil and the receiving coil are separated by a distance of less than 10cm in the axial direction.

More preferably, the transmission coil and the reception coil are separated by a distance of less than 5cm in the axial direction.

In an advantageous embodiment, the wireless power receiver unit comprises a receiver magnetic shield and the wireless power transmitter unit comprises a transmission magnetic shield.

Preferably, the receiver magnetic shield is positioned between the receiver coil and the drum side, and the transmission magnetic shield is positioned between the transmission coil and the washing tub side.

Preferably, the receiver magnetic shield is positioned at an opposite side of the receive coil relative to the wireless power transmitter unit.

Preferably, the transmission magnetic shield is positioned at an opposite side of the transmission coil with respect to the wireless power receiver unit.

The above object is also solved by a method for operating a washing machine comprising: a chassis; a washing tub disposed inside the cabinet; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub; an electrically powered liquid supply mounted in/on the drum and configured for dispensing liquid into an interior region of the drum, wherein the method comprises:

-loading laundry into the drum;

-activating the electrically powered liquid supply means for dispensing liquid into the interior region of the drum.

In a preferred embodiment, wherein the laundry washing machine comprises a wireless power transmitter unit associated with the cabinet and/or the washing tub separately from the drum and arranged for wireless transmission of power to a wireless power receiver unit mounted in/on the drum and configured for supplying power to the electrically powered additive treatment device, the method comprises:

-wirelessly supplying power from the wireless power transmitter unit to the wireless power receiver unit;

-supplying power from the wireless power receiver unit to the electrically powered liquid supply such that the electrically powered liquid supply can be activated.

Further advantages and features of the laundry washing machine according to the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description, provided purely as a non-limiting example, in which:

fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a possible embodiment of a laundry machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of a possible embodiment of the wireless transmitter power unit and the wireless receiver power unit of the laundry washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing in more detail an advantageous embodiment of securing a wireless power transmitter unit to a tub and a wireless power receiver unit to a drum of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a power supply circuit of an electric additive treatment device of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a power supply circuit of an electric additive treatment apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a power supply circuit (including an interface unit) of an electric additive treatment device of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of an electric liquid supply apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of an electric liquid supply apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an electric liquid supply apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an electric liquid supply apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention.

In the drawings, like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

An advantageous embodiment of a washing machine 10 according to the invention is schematically illustrated in fig. 1; in this advantageous embodiment, the washing machine is a "simple" washing machine (i.e. a washing machine which can only wash and rinse laundry); in any case, it is clear that the invention can also be applied to a washer-dryer without any substantial modifications.

Advantageously, the washing machine 10 shown in fig. 1 is of the front-opening type; it is clear, however, that the invention can also be applied to top-loading washing machines without any substantial change.

The laundry washing machine 10 according to the present invention advantageously comprises a cabinet 20, wherein an access opening of the front wall 20a is preferably obtained, which access opening is preferably connected to the cabinet 20 via a flexible bellows, not shown.

Preferably, the loading/unloading door 4 allows access to the washing tub 30, which is advantageously suspended from the cabinet 20 by means of the spring 40 and the damper 80.

The washing tub 30 advantageously houses a rotating perforated drum 50, in which the laundry to be washed (not shown) can be loaded.

The drum 50 is preferably provided with a rotating shaft 6 protruding from a rear wall 50b thereof and supported by one or more bearings (not shown) provided in the rear wall 30b of the tub 30; the shaft 6, and thus the drum 50, is preferably rotated by an electric motor 5, which is preferably, but not necessarily, directly fixed to the rear wall 30b of the tub 30, or connected to the shaft 6 by a belt and pulley assembly (not shown).

Advantageously, as in the example shown in the figures, the laundry washing machine 10 comprises at least one lifter 500 (also called lifter, or rib, or diverter) which is hollow, protrudes from the inner side 50c of the drum 50 towards the inside of the drum, and is adapted to improve the agitation of the laundry during the rotation of the drum 50; the lifter 500 is preferably a substantially prismatic element, which is advantageously positioned so that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 50.

Washing machine 10 preferably comprises a washing/rinsing liquid supply circuit 100 connectable to a water mains (not shown) present outside the machine and suitable for feeding washing/rinsing liquid (i.e. water or water mixed with washing/rinsing additives) into tub 30.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the washing/rinsing liquid supply circuit 100 may advantageously comprise an additive casing 101 associated with the cabinet 20 and housing an additive drawer 102 provided with a plurality of compartments (not shown) suitable for being filled with washing and/or rinsing additives; water from a water manifold connected to wash/rinse liquid supply circuit 100 is selectively brought into one or more compartments of additive drawer 102 (e.g., by controlling suitable electromagnetic water inlet valves, not shown) to contact and mix with the additives contained therein and form a wash/rinse solution.

The wash/rinse solution (i.e. the water mixed with the wash and/or rinse additives) is then sent to the washing tub 30 through a conduit 103 fluidly connecting the additive housing 101 and the washing tub 30.

Advantageously, clean water may also be sent to the washing tub 30, for example for rinsing the laundry during a rinsing phase; this may be accomplished by introducing clean water from the water mains into the empty compartment of the additive drawer 102, from where it enters the tub via conduit 103.

Advantageously, the laundry washing machine 10 comprises a control unit 60 which preferably manages the operation of the laundry washing machine 10, for example by controlling the drum motor speed and other valves and/or actuators comprised in the laundry treatment apparatus, such as a drain pump and a user interface (not shown).

The washing machine 10 is also advantageously provided with a draining circuit (also not illustrated) adapted to drain the washing/rinsing liquid from the machine.

The drain circuit of a washing machine is well known in the art and will therefore not be described in detail.

The wireless power transmitter unit 62 is preferably associated with the cabinet 20 and/or the washing tub 30 separately from the drum 50; in the advantageous embodiment illustrated in fig. 1, the wireless power transmitter unit 62 is advantageously fixed to the tub 30, preferably to the inner wall of the tub 30 facing the drum 50.

In different advantageous embodiments, the wireless power transmitter unit 62 may be mounted, for example, in a stationary or fixed portion of the chassis 20.

The washing machine 10 is preferably further provided with a wireless power receiver unit 63 mounted in/on the drum 50.

The wireless power transmitter unit 62 is arranged for wirelessly transmitting power to the wireless power receiver unit 63.

The wireless power transmitter unit 62 is electrically connected, preferably wired, to the electrical system (not shown) of the washing machine 10; the electrical system may be connected, for example, to an electrical mains (not shown) of a building in which the washing machine 10 is installed, so as to be powered by such an electrical mains.

In an advantageous embodiment, such as the one illustrated in fig. 1, the wireless power transmitter unit 62 and the wireless power receiver unit 63 are positioned opposite each other, fixed to the washing tub 30 and the drum 50, respectively, and preferably parallel to each other and to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drum 50.

In an advantageous embodiment, such as the one illustrated in fig. 1, the wireless power receiver unit 63 is fixed to the front wall 50a of the drum 50 (advantageously corresponding to the open side of the drum), and the wireless power transmitter unit 62 is preferably fixed to the front wall 30a of the tub 30 facing the wireless power receiver unit 63.

In another advantageous embodiment (not shown), the wireless power transmitter unit 62 may be fixed to the rear wall 30b of the tub 30, preferably facing the drum 50, and the wireless power receiver unit 63 may be fixed to the rear wall 50b of the drum 50 facing the tub 30.

The wireless power receiver unit 63 is electromagnetically coupled to the wireless power transmitter unit 62.

Preferably, the wireless power transmitter unit 62 and the wireless power receiver unit 63 are ring-shaped (e.g., these units are or include conductive coils); more preferably, they are centered on the center of the drum 50 and mounted on the tub 30 and the drum 50, respectively, in parallel to each other and to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum 50.

The power receiver unit 63 is advantageously fixed opposite to the power transmitter unit 62 and parallel to it and to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drum 50.

A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the wireless power transmitter unit 62 and the wireless power receiver unit 63 is schematically shown in fig. 2.

Preferably, the wireless power transmitter unit 62 has a transmission coil 620 electromagnetically coupled with a reception coil 630 of the wireless power receiver unit 63. Preferably, these units are integrated in the

enclosure material

622, 632 and preferably have

magnetic sheets

621 and 631, respectively, which provide lateral magnetic shielding to the sides outside the coupling region and improve the magnetic coupling between the two

coils

620 and 630.

Preferably, the wireless power transmitter unit 62 and the wireless power receiver unit 63 are centered in parallel with respect to the center of the drum 50 in order to maximize electromagnetic coupling, as shown in fig. 3, for example.

In the advantageous example of fig. 3, the wireless power receiver unit 63 may advantageously be fixed in an annular opening formed in the outer periphery of the drum 50, while the side 622 of the power transmitter unit may advantageously be fixed or glued to the tub 30 wall with screws.

According to the present invention, the laundry washing machine 10 comprises an electric liquid supply device 200, better described hereinafter, mounted in/on the drum 50 and configured for distributing the liquid 3 into an internal region of said drum 50.

The liquid 3 may be water or water mixed with washing and/or rinsing agents.

In advantageous embodiments, as some embodiments shown in the figures, the wireless power receiver unit 63 is configured for supplying power to the electrically powered liquid supply device 200.

In advantageous embodiments, such as some of the embodiments shown in the figures, the electrically powered liquid supply device 200 is wired to the wireless power receiver unit 63.

For example, as shown in the advantageous embodiment of fig. 4, in the control unit 60 of the washing machine 10, the oscillating voltage may be generated by switching elements 602 electrically connected to a transmission coil 620 of the wireless power transmitter unit 62 coupled with a receiving coil 630 of the wireless power receiver unit 63. The voltage induced in the coil 630 may preferably be rectified and regulated in the coil interface block 611 and may preferably be wired to another electric liquid supply device 200 mounted in/on the drum 50 (if there is more than one, they may preferably, but need not necessarily, be electrically connected in parallel with each other), only schematically illustrated in fig. 4.

Preferably, the components of the interface block 611 may be integrated in the power receiver unit 63.

In another advantageous embodiment, such as the one shown in fig. 5, the power receiver unit 63 has a plurality of coils 630, each coil 630 preferably being supplied to one or more respective electrically powered liquid supplies 200 through its own interface block 611.

A further advantageous embodiment is shown in fig. 6. In this embodiment, the interface unit 61 is fixed on the drum 50 together with the power receiver unit 63 and one or more electrically powered liquid supplies 200. The interface unit 61 may be supplied by a dedicated receiver coil 640 of the receiver unit 63 as shown in fig. 6 or may be connected in parallel with the receiver coil 630 supplied for the electrically powered additive treating device 200.

The interface unit 61 preferably has a wireless connection 601 in order to transmit the measurement data to the appliance control unit 60.

For example, the interface unit 61 may transfer the measured temperature 615 from a temperature measurement element (not shown) located, for example, in the riser 500 to the appliance control unit 60; this would allow, for example, to configure a washing cycle based on the actual temperature measured in the drum 50 rather than an inferred temperature from the temperature measured in the tub 30, which may be very different at the beginning of the cycle.

The interface unit 61 may for example be positioned integrated in the insulating support material 632 of the power receiver unit 63, or may for example be positioned on the rear wall 50b of the drum 50, preferably in the central region of the drum. The greatest advantage of this position is that the interface unit 61 parts are not subjected to high centrifugal forces.

In a further advantageous embodiment (not shown), electric power may be supplied to the electric liquid supply device 200 through sliding electric contacts (not shown) configured for electrically connecting the electric liquid supply device 200 mounted in/on the drum 50 to a power supply device (not shown) mounted on a non-rotating portion of the laundry machine 10 (e.g., the tub 30 or the cabinet 20), preferably electrically connectable to the electric mains of a building.

In the following, different possible advantageous embodiments of the electrically powered liquid supply device 200 according to the invention will be described.

In advantageous embodiments, such as some illustrated in fig. 7 and 10, the electric liquid supply device 200 is configured for drawing liquid from an area of the tub 30 external to the drum 50 and dispensing the liquid 3 into an inner area of the drum 50.

In further advantageous embodiments, such as some illustrated in fig. 8 and 9, the electric liquid supply device 200 is configured for drawing liquid from an inner region of the drum 50 and distributing the liquid 3 into different inner regions of the drum 50.

In advantageous embodiments, as some embodiments illustrated in fig. 8 and 9, the laundry washing machine 10 comprises a reservoir 7 mounted in/on the drum 50, and the electric liquid supply device 200 is configured for drawing liquid 3 from the reservoir 7 and dispensing the liquid 3 into the inner region of the drum 50.

In advantageous embodiments, such as some of the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the electric liquid supply device 200 is at least partially, preferably entirely, placed within the riser 500.

In preferred embodiments, such as some of the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the electrically powered liquid supply 200 is or includes a pump 9.

In advantageous embodiments, as some embodiments shown in the figures, the wireless power receiver unit 63 is configured for supplying power to the pump 9.

In advantageous embodiments, such as some of the embodiments shown in the figures, the pump 9 is wired to a wireless power receiver unit 63.

In a preferred embodiment, such as some of the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the pump 9 is placed within the riser 500.

In preferred embodiments, such as some illustrated in fig. 7, 8 and 9, the discharge side of the pump 9 is connected to a discharge conduit 92 configured to pump the liquid 3 out of the riser 500.

In further advantageous embodiments, such as the one illustrated in fig. 10, the discharge conduit 92 is configured for pumping liquid into the riser 500; in this case, the lifter 500 comprises one or more porous outlet walls 16 through which the liquid 3 can leave the lifter 500 and reach the inner region of the drum 50.

In a preferred embodiment, such as the one illustrated in fig. 8, the reservoir 7 is placed within a riser 500.

In a preferred embodiment, such as the one illustrated in fig. 9, the reservoir 7 coincides with a portion of the riser 500.

In a preferred embodiment, the electric liquid supply device 200 is controlled by a control unit 60 of the washing machine 10, to which it is operatively connected.

Preferably, the electrically powered liquid supply 200 is operatively connected to the control unit 60 by a data transmission system (not shown).

In a further advantageous embodiment, the electric liquid supply device 200 is controlled by a dedicated control system (not shown) mounted in/on the drum 50.

Preferably, a dedicated control system is operatively connected to and controlled by the control unit 60.

In advantageous embodiments, such as some illustrated in fig. 7 and 10, the suction side of pump 9 is fluidly connected to the interior of tub 30 by a suction pipe 91.

Preferably, the control unit 60 is configured for activating the pump 9 when the angular position of the drum 50 is such that the suction duct 91 is in contact with the liquid contained in the tub 30.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the dedicated control system is configured for activating the pump 9 when the angular position of the drum 50 is such that the suction duct 91 is in contact with the liquid contained in the tub 30.

In an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir 7 is manually and/or automatically refillable, for example by opening a suitable lid 71 of the reservoir 7.

The operation of the washing machine 10 according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with respect to only the operation of the electric liquid supply device 200.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in fig. 7, after laundry is loaded into the drum 50 and the loading/unloading door 4 is closed, a washing course may be selected and started, for example, through a user interface (not illustrated).

During the washing process, washing and/or rinsing liquid (i.e. water or a solution in which water is mixed with washing and/or rinsing additives) may be loaded into the washing tub 30, for example, through the washing/rinsing liquid supply circuit 100.

After bringing the drum 50 (if required) in an angular position in which the suction pipe 91 is in contact with the washing and/or rinsing liquid contained in the tub 30, the pump 9 can be activated so as to draw this liquid a and bring it into the drum 50 where the laundry is located.

In this way, such liquid 3 directly contacts the laundry contained in the drum 50, thereby effectively wetting the laundry and ensuring optimal washing and/or rinsing effects.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in fig. 10 differs from the one of fig. 7 only because in the embodiment of fig. 10 the pump 9 pumps liquid 3 into the lifter 500, from which such liquid 3 enters the drum 50 via the perforated outlet wall 16 of the lifter 500.

The embodiment of fig. 8 and 9 differs from the one of fig. 7 only in that in the embodiment of fig. 8 and 9 the pump 9 draws liquid 3 from the reservoir 7.

It can thus be seen how the present invention achieves the proposed objects and aims, providing a laundry washing machine that can supply liquid directly inside the drum and therefore exactly where the laundry is located, ensuring that all or most of the laundry can be effectively wetted by the liquid.

In an advantageous embodiment, in which the electrically powered liquid supply is powered by a wireless power receiver unit mounted in/on the drum and to which power is wirelessly transmitted by a power transmitter unit associated with the cabinet and/or with the tub separately from the drum, it is also possible to avoid sliding contacts (and associated wear problems) for transmitting power between the non-rotating part of the washing machine (cabinet or washing tub) and the drum, and thus improve the reliability of the washing machine.

Claims

1. A washing machine (10) comprising:

a machine box (20),

a washing tub (30) disposed inside the cabinet (20),

a drum (50) rotatably disposed inside the tub (30),

characterized in that said washing machine comprises

An electrically powered liquid supply (200) mounted in/on the drum (50) and configured for dispensing liquid (3) into an interior region of the drum (30).

2. Laundry machine (10) according to claim 1, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is configured for drawing liquid (3) from a region of the tub (30) external to the drum (50) and dispensing said liquid (3) into an internal region of the drum (30).

3. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 1, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is configured for drawing liquid (3) from an inner region of said drum (50) and distributing said liquid (3) into different inner regions of said drum (30).

4. Laundry machine (10) according to claim 3, comprising a liquid reservoir (7) mounted in/on said drum (50), wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is configured for drawing liquid (3) from said liquid reservoir (7) and dispensing said liquid (3) into an inner region of said drum (30).

5. The laundry machine (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is or comprises a pump (9).

6. Laundry machine (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one lifter (500) which is hollow, projecting from the inner lateral surface (50c) of said drum (50) towards the inside of said drum.

7. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 6, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is at least partially placed inside said lifter (500).

8. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 7, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is completely housed within said lifter (500).

9. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 5 and one or more of claims 6 to 8, wherein said pump (9) is placed inside said lifter (500).

10. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 9, wherein a discharge side of the pump (9) is connected to a discharge duct (92) configured for pumping liquid (3) out of the lifter (500).

11. The laundry machine (10) of claim 9, wherein a discharge side of said pump (9) is connected to a discharge duct (92) configured for pumping liquid into said lifter (500), and wherein said lifter (500) comprises one or more porous outlet walls (16) through which liquid (3) can exit said lifter (500) and enter an inner region of said drum (50).

12. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 4 and one or more of claims 6 to 11, wherein said reservoir (7) is placed inside said lifter (500).

13. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 4 and one or more of claims 6 to 11, wherein said reservoir (7) coincides with said lifter (500) or a portion thereof.

14. Laundry washing machine (10) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said laundry washing machine (10) comprises a control unit (60) which governs the operation of said laundry washing machine (10), and wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is controlled by said control unit (60) and is operatively connected thereto.

15. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 14, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is operatively connected to said control unit (60) through a data transmission system.

16. Laundry washing machine (10) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is controlled by a dedicated control system installed in/on said drum (50).

17. Laundry machine (10) according to claim 14 or 15 and 16, wherein said dedicated control system is operatively connected to and controlled by said control unit (60).

18. The laundry machine (10) according to claims 5 and 14 or one or more of the claims depending on claims 5 and 14, wherein a suction side of said pump (9) is fluidly connected to the inside of said tub (30) through a suction pipe (91), wherein said control unit (60) is configured for activating said pump (9) when the angular position of said drum (50) is such that said suction pipe (91) is in contact with the liquid contained in said tub (30).

19. The laundry machine (10) according to claims 5 and 16 or one or more of the claims depending on claims 5 and 16, wherein a suction side of said pump (9) is fluidly connected to the inside of said tub (30) through a suction pipe (91), wherein said dedicated control system is configured for activating said pump (9) when the angular position of said drum (50) is such that said suction pipe (91) is in contact with the liquid contained in said tub (30).

20. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 4 or one or more of the claims depending on claim 4, wherein said reservoir (7) is manually and/or automatically refillable.

21. Laundry washing machine (10) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said liquid (3) is water or water mixed with a washing and/or rinsing agent.

22. Laundry washing machine (10) according to one or more of the previous claims, comprising:

a wireless power transmitter unit (62) associated with the cabinet (20) and/or the washing tub (30) separately from the drum (50) and arranged for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiver unit (63) mounted in/on the drum (50),

wherein the wireless power receiver unit (63) is configured for supplying power to the electrically powered liquid supply device (200).

23. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 22, wherein said electric liquid supply device (200) is wired to said wireless power receiver unit (63).

24. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said wireless power transmitter unit (62) is electrically connected to an electrical system of the laundry machine (10).

25. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 24, wherein said wireless power transmitter unit (62) is electrically connected by wire to said electrical system of said laundry machine (10).

26. The laundry machine (10) according to one or more of claims 22-25, wherein said wireless power transmitter unit (62) is mounted in/on said washing tub (30).

27. Laundry machine (10) according to claim 26, wherein said power transmitter unit (62) and said power receiver unit (63) are positioned opposite each other, fixed to said washing tub (30) and said drum (50), respectively, parallel to each other and to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of said drum (50).

28. The laundry machine (10) according to one or more of claims 22 to 27, wherein said wireless power transmitter unit (62) comprises a transmission coil (620) generating a magnetic field and said wireless power receiver unit (63) comprises a receiving coil (630) generating electric power using the magnetic field generated by said transmission coil (620) and supplying the generated electric power to said electrically powered additive treatment device (200).

29. A laundry machine (10) as claimed in claim 28, characterized by the transmission coil (620) and the receiving coil (630) being aligned, centred and parallel to each other and parallel to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drum (50).

30. The laundry machine (10) of claim 29, wherein a common radial dimension of said transmission coil (620) and said receiving coil (630) is substantially equal to an outer radius of said drum (50) and is spaced in an axial direction by a distance less than the radius thereof.

31. The laundry machine (10) of claim 30, wherein said transmitting coil (620) and said receiving coil (630) are separated by a distance of less than 10cm in an axial direction.

32. Laundry machine (10) according to claim 31, wherein the distance between the transmission coil (620) and the reception coil (630) in axial direction is less than 5 cm.

33. The laundry machine (10) according to one or more of claims 22 to 32, wherein said wireless power receiver unit (63) comprises a receiver magnetic shield (631) and said wireless power transmitter unit (62) comprises a transmission magnetic shield (621).

34. The laundry machine (10) according to claim 33 when depending on one or more of claims 28 to 32, wherein said receiver magnetic shield (631) is positioned between said receiving coil (630) and said drum (50) side and said transmission magnetic shield (621) is positioned between said transmission coil (620) and said washing tub (30) side.

35. The laundry treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 33 or 34, wherein said receiver magnetic shield (631) is positioned at an opposite side of said receiving coil (630) with respect to said wireless power transmitter unit (62).

36. The laundry treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 33 or 34 or 35, wherein said transmission magnetic shield (621) is positioned at an opposite side of said transmission coil (620) with respect to said wireless power receiver unit (63).

37. A method for operating a laundry washing machine (10) comprising a cabinet (20), a washing tub (30) placed inside the cabinet (20), a drum (50) rotatably placed inside the tub (30), an electrically powered liquid supply device (200) mounted in/on the drum (50) and configured for dispensing liquid (3) into an inner region of the drum (30),

the method comprises the following steps:

-loading laundry into the drum (50);

-activating the electrically powered liquid supply device (200) for dispensing liquid (3) into the inner region of the drum (30).

38. Method for operating a laundry machine (10) according to claim 37, wherein the laundry machine (10) comprises a wireless power transmitter unit (62) associated with the cabinet (20) and/or the washing tub (30) separately from the drum (50) and arranged for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiver unit (63) mounted in/on the drum (50), wherein the wireless power receiver unit (63) is configured for supplying power to the electric liquid supply device (200), wherein the method comprises:

-wirelessly supplying power from the wireless power transmitter unit (62) to the wireless power receiver unit (63);

-supplying power from the wireless power receiver unit (63) to the electrically powered liquid supply (200) such that the electrically powered liquid supply can be activated.