Method for washing laundry of a wash load

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11668039-B2
Application number	US-201816640477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2018
Priority date	Aug 29, 2017
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for washing laundry of a laundry load, in particular in a washing drum (B 2 ), carried out by at least one device ( 100, 200 ). In one example, the method includes generating steam and applying the steam to the laundry of the laundry load; producing a microemulsion by employing a detergent composition; and washing the laundry of the laundry load using a first wash liquor based on the microemulsion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for washing laundry of a laundry load in a washing drum and carried out by at least one device, the method comprising the steps of:
generating steam and applying the steam to the laundry of the laundry load;
determining an amount of a detergent composition to be dosed to generate a microemulsion based at least on (i) an amount of the laundry of the laundry load, (ii) an amount of water used or to be used to produce a first wash liquor, and (iii) a water property of the water used or to be used to produce the first wash liquor;
generating the microemulsion by dosing the amount of the detergent composition; and
washing the laundry of the laundry load using the first wash liquor based on the microemulsion,
wherein:
the detergent composition or part thereof is introduced into the steam and applied to the laundry of the laundry load together with the steam, and
the microemulsion is produced by the detergent composition and moisture of the steam.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the steam is applied to the laundry of the laundry load by employing at least one nozzle.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first wash liquor is a substantially completely bound liquor.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a liquor ratio of the first wash liquor is lower than about 1:1.5.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein application of the steam to the laundry of the laundry load takes place at least temporarily while rotating the washing drum at a first rotational speed.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein washing of the laundry of the laundry load using the first wash liquor takes place at least temporarily while rotating the washing drum at a second rotational speed which is less than the first rotational speed.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
applying at least one detergent component to the laundry of the laundry load separately from application of the steam to the laundry of the laundry load.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
applying water to the laundry of the laundry load by employing at least one nozzle for producing a second wash liquor, wherein a liquor ratio of the second wash liquor is higher than a liquor ratio of the first wash liquor; and
washing the laundry of the laundry load using the second wash liquor.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
applying water to the laundry of the laundry load to produce a rinse liquor; and
rinsing the laundry of the laundry load using the rinse liquor.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
determining one or more turbidity values and/or electrical characteristic values of the microemulsion, the first wash liquor, the second wash liquor and/or the rinse liquor.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
querying and/or obtaining information representative of an effectiveness of a wash result with respect to the washed laundry of the laundry load.

Assignees

• Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Kessler Arnd
• Klemmer Anna
• Schmiedel Peter
• Juckel Thomas
• Nitsch Christian

Classifications

• D06F2105/48

  Drum speed · CPC title

• D06F34/28

  Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress · CPC title

• D06F39/02

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F33/57

  of metering of detergents or additives · CPC title

• D06F33/37 Primary

  of metering of detergents or additives · CPC title