Washing machine with a pressing and/or ironing function and method for cleaning laundry

Abstract

A washing machine includes therein supports fixing the laundry therein, for example, hanger-like supports, clamping and/or tensioning configurations, or steaming dummies. Once washing has been completed, the laundry is subjected to steam pressure from the inside through the support. The laundry is, thus, pressed and/or ironed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A washing machine for cleaning laundry items, comprising: 
 a housing;    an air stream device disposed at said housing for producing an air stream;    a transporting device disposed in said housing for moving at least one item of laundry within said housing; and    an air stream directing device disposed in said housing for directing the air stream into at least one of the laundry items disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said transporting device transports at least one of the laundry items to direct at least some of the air stream into the at least one laundry item.  
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said transporting device has a hanger-shaped carrier.  
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein said transporting device has: 
 a bearing device with a shape corresponding to a shape of the laundry item to be processed; and    said bearing device is fluidically connected with said air stream device.    
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said bearing device is one of a steaming dummy and a clamping and/or tensioning configuration.  
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second air stream device for producing a second air stream, said second air stream device being disposed in said housing and directing said second air stream onto an outer side of the at least one laundry item in said housing.  
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controllable conveying configuration disposed in said housing, said bearing device being a plurality of bearing devices, at least one of said bearing devices being coupled to said conveying configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said conveying configuration is a conveying belt or a conveying chain.  
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controllable conveying configuration disposed in said housing, said carrier being a plurality of carriers, at least one of said carriers being coupled to said conveying configuration.  
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the washing machine has a plurality of processing operations;    said conveying configuration at least one of keeps the at least one laundry item stationary, moves the at least one laundry item into a constant-speed circulatory path, and executes a reciprocating movement dependent upon a respective one of the processing operations.    
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a cabinet.  
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wetting device disposed in said housing for wetting the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid dispenser disposed in said housing for applying washing liquid to the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing, said liquid dispenser having at least one nozzle for spraying the washing liquid onto the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rinsing device disposed in said housing for supplying rinsing water to the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a water removal device disposed in said housing for preliminary removal of water from the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated drying configuration disposed in said housing for drying the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         17 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a housing;    means for producing an air stream disposed at said housing;    means for carrying at least one item of laundry within said housing; and    means for directing the air stream into the laundry items disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         18 . A washing machine for cleaning laundry items, comprising: 
 a housing;    an air stream device disposed at said housing for producing an air stream;    a transporting device disposed in said housing for moving at least one item of laundry within said housing, transporting device having bearing devices each with a shape corresponding to a shape of the laundry item to be processed, at least one of said bearing devices being fluidically connected with said air stream device;    an air stream directing device disposed in said housing for directing the air stream into at least one of the laundry items disposed in said housing;    a second air stream device for producing a second air stream, said second air stream device being disposed in said housing and directing said second air stream onto an outer side of the at least one laundry item in said housing;    a controllable conveying configuration disposed in said housing, at least one of said bearing devices being coupled to said conveying configuration, said conveying configuration at least one of keeping the at least one laundry item stationary, moving the at least one laundry item into a constant-speed circulatory path, and executing a reciprocating movement dependent upon a respective one of the processing operations;    a wetting device disposed in said housing for wetting the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing;    a liquid dispenser disposed in said housing for applying washing liquid to the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing, said liquid dispenser having at least one nozzle for spraying the washing liquid onto the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing;    a rinsing device disposed in said housing for supplying rinsing water to the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing;    a water removal device disposed in said housing for preliminary removal of water from the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing; and    an integrated drying configuration disposed in said housing for drying the at least one laundry item disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         19 . A method of at least one of pressing and ironing at least one laundry item, which comprises: 
 placing the at least one laundry item in a washing machine having at least one of an integrated pressing function and an ironing function;    passing hot, moisture-loaded compressed air over the at least one laundry item; and    passing hot, dry compressed air over the at least one laundry item.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises preliminarily removing water from the at least one laundry item.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises, before passing the hot, moisture-loaded compressed air and passing the hot, dry compressed air over the at least one laundry item, removing water from the at least one laundry item.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises supplying cold, dry air at least to an interior of the housing.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises supplying cold, dry air at least to the at least one laundry item.