Patent ID: 8356496
Filing Date: 2013-01-22
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for supplying an air flow to items to be washed, the apparatus comprising: a substantially closed first channel system for forcibly guiding the air flow; a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber arranged in the first channel system for receiving the items to be washed; a blower for driving the air flow arranged in the first channel system; a heater for heating the air flow before the items to be washed are supplied with the air flow; and a cooler for cooling the air flow after the items to be washed have been supplied with the air flow, wherein the heater and the cooler form part of a heat pump device that pumps heat from the cooler to the heater, wherein a portion of the first channel system excluding the treatment chamber and the blower has a first branch and a second branch connected in parallel to one another; the first branch and the second branch dividing the air flow into a first part flowing through the first branch and a second part flowing through the second branch, the first part and the second part flowing through the first branch and the second branch in parallel; and the heater of the heat pump device being arranged in the first branch and heating the first part of the air flow, and the cooler of the heat pump device being arranged in the second branch and cooling the second part of the air flow, and the first branch and the second branch being combined downstream of the heater and cooler such that the first part and the second part of the air flow combine and flow toward the treatment chamber.