Method for Operating a Washing Cycle and a Subsequent Drying Cycle in a Laundry Washer-Dryer

Abstract

A laundry washer-dryer comprises a tub, a drum for storing laundry rotatably arranged inside the tub, an air circulation channel connected at a first end and at a second end to the tub, a blower for blowing the air through the air circulation channel, the tub and the drum, and a heat pump system having a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser, the evaporator and the condenser being arranged in the air circulation channel. A method for operating a washing cycle and a subsequent drying cycle in the laundry washer-dryer comprises performing the washing cycle, the washing cycle including at least one washing phase, at least one rinsing phase and at least one spinning phase, and performing the drying cycle including at least one drying phase. At least one last rinsing phase of the washing cycle is performed by using heated water so as to cause the temperature inside the tub to increase.

1 . A method comprising:
 performing a washing cycle including at least one washing phase, at least one rinsing phase and at least one spinning phase using a laundry washer-dryer, wherein
 the laundry washer-dryer comprises a tub, a drum for storing laundry rotatably arranged inside the tub, an air circulation channel connected at a first end and at a second end to the tub, a blower for blowing the air through the air circulation channel, the tub and the drum, and a heat pump system having a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser, the evaporator and the condenser being arranged in the air circulation channel, and 
 the at least one rinsing phase is performed using heated water so as to cause the temperature inside the tub to increase; and 
   performing a drying cycle including at least one drying phase.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rinsing phase is at least partially performed before at least one of starting the operation of the compressor and starting the operation of the blower. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor starts to operate when a last rinsing phase is in progress or when a spinning phase subsequent to the last rinsing phase is in progress. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor starts to operate after a last rinsing phase is completed or after a spinning phase subsequent to the last rinsing phase is completed. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blower for blowing the air through the air circulation channel starts to operate after a last rinsing phase is completed or after a spinning phase subsequent to the last rinsing phase is completed. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the starting of operation of the compressor is provided before or after the activation of the blower. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the laundry is less than a value of a maximal amount of laundry for the drying cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heated water is generated by a heating device provided for a tub of the laundry washer-dryer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heated water is provided by a water supply. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heated water is provided by a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the heated water is between 40° C. and 80° C., in particular 60° C. 
     
     
         12 . A laundry washer-dryer comprising:
 a tub;   a drum configured for storing laundry and rotatably arranged inside the tub;   an air circulation channel connected at a first end and at a second end to the tub;   a blower configured for blowing air through the air circulation channel, the tub and the drum; and   a heat pump system having a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser, the evaporator and the condenser being arranged in the air circulation channel, wherein the laundry washer-dryer is configured to
 perform a washing cycle including at least one washing phase, at least one rinsing phase and at least one spinning phase, the at least one rinsing phase performed using heated water so as to cause the temperature inside the tub to increase, and 
 performing a drying cycle including at least one drying phase. 
   
     
     
         13 . The laundry washer-dryer according to  claim 12 , comprising a water inlet valve connected or connectable to a warm water supply. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry washer-dryer according to  claim 12 , comprising a heating device using at least one renewable energy source. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry washer-dryer according to  claim 12 , comprising a control unit programmed for performing the washing and drying cycles.