Home Appliance

Abstract

A home appliance ( 2 ), in particular dishwasher or laundry treatment apparatus, further in particular a laundry treatment apparatus capable of washing and/or drying, includes a liquid supply channel ( 24 ) and/or a liquid reservoir ( 22 ) and a droplet spraying device ( 26 ). The droplet spraying device includes a membrane ( 36 ) arranged in fluid connection with the liquid supply channel ( 24 ) and/or the liquid reservoir ( 22 ). The membrane ( 36 ) has a plurality of openings ( 38 ), and at least one actuator ( 40 ) is provided for actuating the membrane ( 36 ).

1 . A home appliance capable of treating articles, comprising a liquid supply channel and/or a liquid reservoir and a droplet spraying device, the droplet spraying device comprising:
 a membrane arranged in fluid connection with the liquid supply channel and/or the liquid reservoir, wherein the membrane has a plurality of openings, and   at least one actuator for actuating the membrane to transmit liquid therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . A home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the home appliance comprises a heat exchanging device, and wherein the droplet spraying device is configured to spray liquid supplied to the membrane by the liquid supply channel and/or the liquid reservoir onto one or more surfaces of the heat exchanging device. 
     
     
         3 . A home appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged above the heat exchanging device and/or in or close to an air supply channel for flowing air to the heat exchanging device. 
     
     
         4 . A home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the home appliance comprises a compartment for articles to be treated, and wherein the droplet spraying device is configured to spray droplets into the compartment. 
     
     
         5 . A home appliance according to  claim 4 , wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged at a wall section forming part of the enclosure of the compartment. 
     
     
         6 . A home appliance according to  claim 4 , wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged within the compartment, at a movable or stationary element thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A home appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged at a loading door for closing a loading opening and/or is arranged at a gasket arranged between a loading opening and the compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A home appliance according to  claim 4 , wherein the home appliance comprises a rotatable drum forming at least part of the compartment and the droplet spraying device is configured to spray droplets into the drum. 
     
     
         9 . A home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the home appliance comprises a compartment for articles to be treated, in particular a laundry storage compartment or a dishes storing compartment, and wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged in an air flowing channel upstream of the compartment, the air flowing channel forming part of a process air channel and/or part of an air circulation channel. 
     
     
         10 . A home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is supported by the actuator, and wherein the actuator ( 40 ) comprises one or more electrostriction, magnetostriction or piezoelectric elements adapted to deflect when electrically and/or magnetically excited. 
     
     
         11 . A home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane forms at least part of the at least one actuator. 
     
     
         12 . A home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein in a first operation mode of the droplet spraying device a vibration frequency and/or speed and/or amplitude of the membrane actuation is higher than in a second mode of operation. 
     
     
         13 . A home appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in the first operation mode of the droplet spraying device the liquid is completely, substantially or at least partially sprayed by the membrane, and in the second operation mode of the droplet spraying device the liquid is completely, substantially or at least partially flown through an outlet of the liquid supply channel or the liquid reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a home appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a first step liquid supplied to the membrane is sprayed by the droplet spraying device, and   in a succeeding step the liquid reservoir and/or the liquid supply channel is washed by a liquid flow.   
     
     
         15 . A home appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein the droplet spraying device is configured to spray liquid onto the heat exchanging surfaces of the heat exchanging device. 
     
     
         16 . A home appliance according to  claim 3 , wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged in or close to said air supply channel, and wherein the air supply channel is part of a processing air channel. 
     
     
         17 . A home appliance according to  claim 4 , wherein said compartment comprises a laundry storage compartment or a dishes storing compartment. 
     
     
         18 . A home appliance according  claim 8 , wherein the droplet spraying device is arranged at a front and/or rear closure element, the front or rear closure element covering or closing a front or rear opening of the drum, respectively.