Washing machine and method for operating a washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine has a housing and a drum unit with a cup-like tub and a cylindrical drum, which is rotatably mounted in the tub about its cylinder axis. The tub and the drum open out at the end face in a loading and unloading opening of the drum unit. The drum unit can be tilted about a tilt axis that is perpendicular to the cylinder axis, between a loading and unloading position, wherein the loading and unloading opening points obliquely upward, and a wash position for a wash cycle. The housing has a displaceable front wall coupled with the drum unit. A door closes a breakthrough in the front wall that always covers the loading and unloading opening of the drum unit.

1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a drum unit mounted in said housing, said drum unit including a cup-shaped tub and a cylindrical drum with a cylinder axis, wherein said drum is rotatably mounted in said tub about said cylinder axis;   said tub and said drum opening out at an end face in a loading and unloading opening of said drum unit;   said drum unit being disposed to assume a loading and unloading position wherein said loading and unloading opening points obliquely upward;   said drum unit being mounted in said housing for tilting in a wash cycle relative to the loading and unloading position about a tilt axis that extends perpendicular to said cylinder axis of said drum, into a wash position; and   said housing having a displaceable front wall coupled with said drum unit, said front wall being formed with a breakthrough that covers said loading and unloading opening of said drum unit, and a door articulated on said front wall for closing both said breakthrough and said loading and unloading opening.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said drum unit is tilted in the wash position to align said cylinder axis of said drum horizontally. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said drum unit is tilted into a spin position in a spin cycle with said cylinder axis of said drum aligned vertically. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said drum unit is tilted in an additional wash position to align said cylinder axis of said drum vertically or obliquely. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises a bellows arranged between said drum unit and said front wall, said bellows being configured to bridge a spacing between said front wall and said drum unit and to close the spacing liquid-tight. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least one support element, wherein said drum element, with said cylinder axis of said drum aligned horizontally, abuts against said at least one support element without a degree of freedom of movement. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least one support element, wherein said drum element, with said cylinder axis of said drum aligned horizontally, abuts against said at least one support element with a small degree of freedom of movement. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises:
 a control unit for automatic sequential control of a sequence of a wash program, said control unit being configured for:   tilting said drum unit from the wash position, with said cylinder axis of said drum aligned horizontally, into a spin position, with said cylinder axis aligned vertically, for a spin cycle;   acquiring a measured variable which is characteristic of an imbalance of the rotating drum prior to or during the tilting;   varying a speed of said drum such that a position of items of laundry located in said drum is changed and an amount of the imbalance is reduced; and   when the imbalance is sufficiently low, increasing the speed abruptly and tilting the drum unit into the spin position while maintaining or increasing the speed further.   
     
     
         9 . A method for operating a washing machine, the method comprising:
 providing a washing machine according to  claim 1 ;   upon a launch of a wash program sequence, tilting the drum unit in the wash cycle from the loading and unloading position into the wash position; and   at an end of the wash program sequence, tilting the drum unit into the loading and unloading position.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , which comprises:
 tilting the drum unit from the wash position, with the cylinder axis of the drum aligned horizontally, for a spin cycle into a spin position, with the cylinder axis of the drum aligned vertically;   prior to, or during the tilting, acquiring a measured variable which is characteristic of an imbalance of the rotating drum;   if necessary, varying a speed of the drum to change a position of items of laundry in the drum and to reduce the imbalance; and   abruptly increasing the speed of the drum when the imbalance is sufficiently low and tilting the drum unit into the spin position while maintaining or increasing the speed further.