Tumble dryer with a humidity sensor system

Abstract

A tumble dryer includes: a laundry drum for loading/unloading the laundry; a humidity sensor system with at least one support for two or more electrodes, electrically insulated from one an-other and positioned in such a way that the electrodes are placed into or face the inside of the laundry drum, so as to contact the laundry loaded into the latter. The electrodes are electrically connected or connectable to a detection circuit and/or a control unit of the tumble dryer. Advantageously the support comprises at least two seats or channels for receiving the electrodes. Each seat or channel comprises at least one retaining element adapted for retaining a respective electrode the seat or channel.

1 . A tumble dryer comprising:
 a laundry drum for loading/unloading the laundry;   a humidity sensor system comprising at least one support for two or more electrodes, electrically insulated from one another and positioned in such a way that said electrodes are placed into or face the inside of said laundry drum, so as to contact the laundry loaded into the latter, said electrodes being electrically connected or connectable to a detection circuit and/or a control unit of the tumble dryer,   wherein   said support comprises at least two seat or channels for receiving said electrodes,   each seat or channel comprises at least one retaining element adapted for retaining a respective electrode into said seat or channel.   
     
     
         2 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining element is obtained in a single piece construction with the respective seat or channel. 
     
     
         3 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining element protrudes from the side wall of the respective seat channel towards the inside of said seat channel. 
     
     
         4 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes comprise a lateral border and wherein said at least one retaining element is arranged in such a way to extend over the border of the respective electrode when the latter is placed into the respective seat or channel, so as to clamp said border and to fix said electrode into said seat or channel. 
     
     
         5 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes comprise a first appendix or end inserted in or insertable into a first opening obtained in a portion of the respective seat of channel, so that said first appendix or end protrudes externally from said seat or channel. 
     
     
         6 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 5 , wherein said first appendix or end is connected or connectable to electric connections for connecting said electrode to said detection circuit and/or control unit. 
     
     
         7 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein a second end of said electrodes is inserted in or insertable into a second opening obtained in the respective seat or channel. 
     
     
         8 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes and said respective channels have an elongated shape. 
     
     
         9 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 8 , wherein each electrode is moveable within a respective channel about a predetermined length and along the common longitudinal axis of the electrode and channel. 
     
     
         10 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrode comprises a lateral border comprising at least one cut in order to overcome said at least one retaining element during inserting said electrode into the respective seat or channel. 
     
     
         11 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 10 , wherein the cut is arranged at the border in such a way that, after inserting said electrode into the respective seat or channel, said at least one retaining element (overlaps said border and keeps the electrode within the seat or channel after the electrode has been properly moved internally to said seat or channel. 
     
     
         12 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein said support is associated to, or associable to, or comprised into a front wall or flange or bulkhead associated to the casing of said tumble drier. 
     
     
         13 . A tumble dryer comprising:
 a laundry drum for loading/unloading the laundry;   a humidity sensor system comprising at least one support for two or more electrodes, electrically insulated from one another and positioned in such a way that said electrodes are placed into or face the inside of said laundry drum, so as to contact the laundry loaded into the latter, said electrodes being electrically connected or connectable to a detection circuit and/or a control unit of the tumble dryer,   wherein   the support is attached or attachable at a seat arranged in an inner side wall or flange or bulkhead comprised or contained in the casing of said tumble drier,   at least one hole is arranged in the inner side wall or flange or bulkhead for conducting electric cables connecting the electrodes to said detection circuit and/or control unit, and   said support comprises at least one appendix or wing for covering at least partially said hole.   
     
     
         14 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 13 , wherein said appendix wing is formed as a protruding sheet. 
     
     
         15 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 14 , wherein said seat is complementary to said support, so that said support is form-locking within the inner side wall or flange or bulkhead of an air stream channel. 
     
     
         16 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one retaining element protrudes from the side wall of the respective seat channel towards the inside of said seat channel. 
     
     
         17 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 2 , wherein said electrodes comprise a lateral border and wherein said at least one retaining element is arranged in such a way to extend over the border of the respective electrode when the latter is placed into the respective seat or channel, so as to clamp said border and to fix said electrode into said seat or channel. 
     
     
         18 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 3 , wherein said electrodes comprise a lateral border and wherein said at least one retaining element is arranged in such a way to extend over the border of the respective electrode when the latter is placed into the respective seat or channel, so as to clamp said border and to fix said electrode into said seat or channel. 
     
     
         19 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 2 , wherein said electrodes comprise a first appendix or end inserted in or insertable into a first opening obtained in a portion of the respective seat of channel, so that said first appendix or end protrudes externally from said seat or channel. 
     
     
         20 . The tumble dryer according to  claim 3 , wherein said electrodes comprise a first appendix or end inserted in or insertable into a first opening obtained in a portion of the respective seat of channel, so that said first appendix or end protrudes externally from said seat or channel.