Office Action 3: Notice of Allowance (2025-07-22)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims

Listing of Claims (replacing all prior versions):

1\. (Currently Amended) A method for controlling a laundry management apparatus including a asher and a dryer, the method comprising:
performing a washing operation \[\[of \]\]bythe washer;
while the washing operation is performed by the washer, performing a hygienic operation \[\[of \]\]bythe dryer before performing a drying operation by the dryer, wherein the hygienic operation comprises ashing and drying a condenser of the dryer ; and
 synchronizing the washing operation of the washer and the hygienic operation of the dryer such that the hygienic operation is completed on or before a completion time of the washing operation .

2-20. (Canceled)319

21\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, wherein the hygienic operation further comprises eating and supplying air into a drum of the dryer, the drum being configured to receive laundry.

22\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, wherein performing the hygienic operation comprises:

based on \[\[the \]\]a first operation time of the washing operation being less than \[\[the \]\]a second operation time of the hygienic operation, resetting the first operation time to be greater than or equal to the second operation time to thereby terminate the hygienic operation of the dryer on or before terminating the washing operation of the washer.

23\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 22, wherein the washing operation of thewasher is performed according to the first operation time that is reset to be greater than or equal to the second operation time.

24\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting the first operation time to the dryer after resetting the first operation time.

25\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 24, wherein performing the hygienic operation further comprises:

after transmitting the first operation time to the dryer and based on the laundry being present in the dryer, outputting a notification indicating the presence of the laundry;
outputting a notification for selecting whether to perform \[\[a \]\]the drying operation of the dryer for drying the laundry; and
performing the drying operation based on a selection to perform the drying operation.

26\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 25, wherein performing the hygienic operation further comprises:
outputting a notification including guide information regarding whether to proceed with a he hygienic operation of the dryer based on a selection not to perform the drying operation.

27\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 25, wherein performing the hygienic operation further comprises:
based on detecting no laundry in the dryer, performing a first scenario hygienic operation or a second scenario hygienic operation according to a selection of one of a synchronization operation or a non-synchronization operation,

wherein performing the first scenario hygienic operation or the second scenario hygienic operation comprises:
outputting a notification including progress information related to the second scenario hygienic operation while performing the second scenario hygienic operation.

28\. (Canceled)

29\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim \[\[28\]\]1,further comprising:
performing a plurality of actions based on the washer stopping during the hygienic operation,
wherein the hygienic operation comprises (i)a first operation comprising heating and supplying air into a drum of the dryer,(ii) a second operation comprising drying the condenser of the dryer, and (ii) a third operation comprising washing the condenser of the dryer, and
wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:determining whether the dryeris performing the first operation included in the hygienic operation; and
performing, by the dryer, the third operation included in the hygienic operation after completing the first operation based on the first operation \[\[is\]\] being performed.

30\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 29, wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
determining whether the dryeris performing the second operation included in the hygienic operation based on the first operation \[\[is\]\] not being performed.

31\. (Canceled)

32\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 30, wherein performing the plurality of actions comprises performing the third operation based on the second operation \[\[is\]\] not being performed.

33\. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 32, wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
based on determining that the second operation is being performed, outputting a notification for selecting whether to keep performing the second operation; and
maintaining performance of the second operation based on a selection to keep performing the second operation.

34\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 33, wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
stopping the second operation, and draining residual water within the asher based on a selection not to keep performing the second operation.

35\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, further comprising:
operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other based on a type of the dryer among a first type dryer or a second type dryer, wherein the first type dryeris configured to switch from an active state to a power-saving state based on an elapse of a predetermined time after power is applied to the first type dryer, and the second type dryer is configured to maintain the active state after power is applied to the second type dryer;
 .

36\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 35, wherein operably connecting thewasher and the dryer to each other further comprises:
determining whether the dryeris in the power-saving state based on determining that the dryeris the first type dryer; and
switching the dryerto the active state based on the dryer \[\[is\]\] being in the power-saving state.

37\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 36, wherein operably connecting thewasher and the dryer to each other comprises:
operably connecting the asher and the dryerto each other based on the dryer \[\[is\]\] not being in the power-saving state.

38\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 36, wherein operably connecting thewasher and the dryer to each other comprises:
operably connecting the asher and the dryerto each other based on the dryer \[\[is\]\] being the second type dryer.

39\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving input from a user for setting a hygiene management mode of the dryer; and
performing the hygienic operation based on receiving the input from the user for setting the hygiene management mode .

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection.  Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.  Applicant's submission filed on 5/28/2025 has been entered.
Examiner’s Amendment
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Minseung Ahn on July 10, 2025.
The application has been amended as follows:
Claim 1: (Currently Amended) A method for controlling a laundry management apparatus including a washer and a dryer, the method comprising: performing a washing operation by the washer; while the washing operation is performed by the washer, performing a hygienic operation by the dryer before performing a drying operation by the dryer, wherein the hygienic operation comprises washing and drying a condenser of the dryer; and synchronizing the washing operation of the washer and the hygienic operation of the dryer such that the hygienic operation is completed on or before a completion time of the washing operationwherein performing the hygienic operation comprises: based on a first operation time of the washing operation being less than a second operation time of the hygienic operation, resetting the first operation time to be greater than or equal to the second operation time or resetting the second operation time to be less than or equal to the first operation time to thereby terminate the hygienic operation of the dryer on or before terminating the washing operation of the washer.
Claim 22: (Canceled)
Claim 23: (Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, wherein the washing operation of the washer is performed according to the first operation time that is reset to be greater than or equal to the second operation time.
Reasons for Allowance
Claims 1, 21, 23-27, 29-30, and 32-39 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The closest prior art of record is Scheible et al. (PG Pub U.S 2020/0370226) and Grunert (PG Pub U.S 2010/0101606).
Scheible teaches a method for controlling a laundry management apparatus including a washing unit and a drying unit, the method comprising performing a washing operation of the washing unit; performing a hygienic operation of the drying unit; and terminating the hygienic operation of the drying unit and the washing operation of the washing unit.
Scheible fails to teach wherein performing the hygienic operation comprises: based on a first operation time of the washing operation being less than a second operation time of the hygienic operation, resetting the first operation time to be greater than or equal to the second operation time or resetting the second operation time to be less than or equal to the first operation time to thereby terminate the hygienic operation of the dryer on or before terminating the washing operation of the washer.
Grunert teaches a washer/dryer combo operation method wherein it is known to wash the condenser.
Grunert fails to teach wherein performing the hygienic operation comprises: based on a first operation time of the washing operation being less than a second operation time of the hygienic operation, resetting the first operation time to be greater than or equal to the second operation time or resetting the second operation time to be less than or equal to the first operation time to thereby terminate the hygienic operation of the dryer on or before terminating the washing operation of the washer.
Regarding the limitation of performing the hygienic operation of the drying unit simultaneously with the washing operation of the washing unit and terminating the hygienic operation on or before the completion time of the washing operation, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to operate them simultaneously and terminate the hygienic operation on or before the completion of the washing operation in order to save time and allow for condenser to be prepared prior to the next laundry cycle.
Thus, the prior art of record does not fairly teach or suggest a method for controlling a laundry management apparatus as in the context of claim 1.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSIn response to the Office Action of February 28, 2025, Applicant asks that the application be allowed in view of the amendments above and the following remarks. Claims 1, 21-27, 29, 30, and 32-39 are pending, with claim 1 being independent. Claims 1, 21-30, 32, and 34-39 have been amended, and claims 28 and 31 have been canceled without prejudice or disclaimer of subject matter. Claims 2-20 were previously canceled. Support for the amendments can be found throughout the specification as filed, for example, at page 16, lines 3-9. No new matter has been introduced.Interview Summary Applicant thanks Examiner Parihar for the courtesy of the telephonic interview held on May 21, 2025. During the interview, proposed amendments to claim 1 were discussed with respect to the § 103 rejections over US 2020/0370226 ("Scheible") in view of US 2010/0101606 ("Grunert"). Although no final agreement was reached regarding specific claim language or patentability, the interview mutually aided the understanding of outstanding issues and generally advanced prosecution. Based on the discussion, the claims have been further amended as set forth above. A summary of the interview is further incorporated into the remarks below.Claim Rejections  35 U.S.C. § 101 Claims 22-38 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as being directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. In particular, the Office Action asserts that "'comparing,' 'detecting,' and/or 'determining' steps" of claims 22, 25, 28, and 35 appear to be directed to "mental steps." See Office Action at p. 3. Without acquiescing to the rejection, and to expedite prosecution, claims 22, 25, and 35 have been amended as set forth above, and claim 28 has been canceled. Specifically, amended claims 22, 25, and 35 no longer recite the terms "comparing," "detecting," and "determining," thereby rendering the § 101 rejection moot.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejections under § 101.Claim Rejections  35 U.S.C. § 103 Claims 1 and 39 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over US 2020/0370226 ("Scheible") in view of US 2010/0101606 ("Grunert"). Claim 21 was rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over Scheible in view of Grunert and US 2008/0053164 ("Park"). Applicant requests reconsideration and withdrawal of these rejections because none of the cited references, whether taken alone or in proper combination, describes or otherwise renders obvious all of the features of amended independent claim 1.For example, amended independent claim 1 recites, among other things, "while the washing operation is performed by the washer, performing a hygienic operation by the dryer before performing a drying operation by the dryer, wherein the hygienic operation comprises washing and drying a condenser of the dryer," and "synchronizing the washing operation of the washer and the hygienic operation of the dryer such that the hygienic operation is completed on or before a completion time of the washing operation." The cited references fail to describe or otherwise render obvious at least these features.Specifically, the Office Action acknowledges that "Scheible fails to teach wherein the hygienic operation comprises automatically washing and drying a condenser of the drying unit." Office Action at p. 4. To remedy these deficiencies of Scheible, the Office Action relies on Grunert, equating Grunert's cleaning process to the claimed hygienic operation. See id. Grunert, however, fails to describe or suggest the above-noted features added as a consequence of the amendments set forth above. In particular, as discussed during the interview, Grunert fails to describe or suggest "a laundry management apparatus including a washer and a dryer," as claimed. Rather, Grunert merely describes "a washer/dryer or a tumble dryer." Grunert at [0029]. That is, Grunert describes a single laundry machine. As a consequence, Grunert does not describe or suggest synchronizing operations of a washer and a dryer, much less, "while the washing operation is performed by the washer, performing a hygienic operation by the dryer before performing a drying operation by the dryer," and "synchronizing the washing operation of the washer and the hygienic operation of the dryer such that the hygienic operation is completed on or before a completion time of the washing operation," as claimed.To the extent the Office Action alleges that "it would be obvious" to do so to allegedly "save time and allow for condenser to be prepared prior to the next laundry cycle," a person of ordinary skill would not have been led, absent impermissible hindsight gleaned from the present application, to rely on Grunert's cleaning process for a single laundry machine to provide the claimed sequence of the washing operation of the washer and the hygienic operation of the dryer.Rather, such a modification would be tantamount to picking and choosing from Grunert only so much of it as would support the Examiner's position, to the exclusion of other parts necessary to fully appreciate what Grunert fairly suggests to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Wesslau, 353 F.2d 238, 241 (CCPA 1965). Applicant notes that "[i]t is impermissible to use the claimed invention as an instruction manual or 'template' to piece together the teachings of the prior art so that the claimed invention is rendered obvious . .. 'One cannot use hindsight reconstruction to pick and choose among isolated disclosures in the prior art to deprecate the claimed invention."' In re Fritch, 972 F.2d 1260, 1266 (Fed. Cir. 1992) (quoting In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 1075 (Fed. Cir. 1988)).For at least these reasons, Grunert fails to remedy the deficiencies of Scheible discussed above. Park fails to cure the deficiencies of Scheible and Grunert.For at least these reasons, the cited references, either alone or in proper combination, fail to describe or otherwise render obvious all of the features of amended independent claim 1.Accordingly, Applicant submits that amended independent claim 1 and its dependent claims are in condition for allowance.Conclusion The other claims in the application are each dependent on the independent claim, and are allowable for at least the above reasons. Because each claim is deemed to define additional aspects of the disclosure, however, the individual consideration of each claim on its own merits is respectfully requested.By responding in the foregoing remarks only to particular positions taken in the action, Applicant does not acquiesce with other positions that have not been explicitly addressed. In addition, Applicant's selecting some particular arguments for the patentability of a claim should not be understood as implying that no other reasons for the patentability of that claim exist.Finally, Applicant's decision to amend or cancel any claim should not be understood as implying that Applicant agrees with any positions taken in the action with reference to that claim or other claims, or that Applicant adopts or agrees with any position except as specifically stated in this paper. In particular, by amending a claim, Applicant does not necessarily concede that the claim prior to amendment was unpatentable.Please apply any necessary charges and credits to Deposit Account 06-1050, referencing the above attorney docket number.Respectfully submitted, Date: May 28, 2025


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20200370226: Claims:
1. A clothes washer, comprising:
a first wash water container; a clothes-washing tub having a water inlet thereof in fluid communication with a water outlet of the first wash water container; a second wash water container having a water inlet thereof in fluid communication with a water outlet of the clothes-washing tub, wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the clothes-washing tub is located at a position above the water inlet of the second wash water container thereby enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the clothes-washing tub to the second wash water container; a filtration cartridge enclosure having a water inlet thereof in fluid communication with a water outlet of the second wash water container through an interior space of the filtration cartridge enclosure and having a water outlet thereof in fluid communication with a water inlet of the first wash water container; and ter filtration cartridge removably mounted within an interior space of the filtration cartridge enclosure.
2. The clothes washer of claim 1, further comprising:
a wash water sanitizer that emits ultraviolet light, wherein the wash water sanitizer and at least one of the clothes-washing tub and the second wash water container are jointly configured for exposing wash water within the second wash water container to said ultraviolet light.
3. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the first wash water container is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the first wash water container to the clothes-washing tub.
4. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein an entire portion of an interior space of the first wash water container is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the first wash water container to the clothes-washing tub.
5. The clothes washer of claim 1, further comprising:
a first water pump having a water inlet thereof in fluid communication with the water outlet of the filtration cartridge enclosure and having a water outlet thereof in fluid communication with the water inlet of the first wash water container.
6. The clothes washer claim 1 wherein:
the second wash water container has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof; and
the water outlet of the second wash water container extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof.
7. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein:
the first wash water container has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof;
the water outlet of the first wash water container extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof; and
the water outlet of the first wash water container is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the first wash water container to the clothes-washing tub.
8. The clothes washer of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the first wash water container is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the first wash water container to the clothes-washing tub.
9. The clothes washer of claim 8 wherein:
the second wash water container has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof; and
the water outlet of the second wash water container extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof
10. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein the filtration cartridge enclosure and a body of the water filtration cartridge are jointly configured for causing an entire portion of wash water provided into an interior space of the filtration cartridge enclosure to pass through an interior space of the body of the water filtration cartridge before entering the water outlet of the filtration cartridge enclosure
11. The clothes washer of claim 10 wherein:
the filtration cartridge includes a plurality of filtration stages;
the filter cartridge includes a cartridge body having a plurality of structural segments;
each of said filtration stages is provided within a respective one of structural segments;
said structural segments are arranged in an end-to-end manner; and
adjacent ones of said structural segments are in fluid communication with each other such that wash water flows sequentially through each of said structural segments.
12. The clothes washer of claim 11 wherein:
a first one of the filtration stages includes a filter screen, a second one of the filtration stages includes at least one of a polyelectrolyte material composition and a salt-based material composition; and
a third one of the filtration stages includes at least one of a particulate filter foam and a particulate-capturing membrane.
13. The clothes washer of claim 11 wherein:
a first one of the filtration stages includes a filter screen;
a second one of the filtration stages includes a hard-water inducing salt-based material composition;
a third one of the filtration stages includes a first microfiltration media;
a fourth one of the filtration stages includes a coagulation-inducing salt-based material composition;
a fifth one of the filtration stages includes a second microfiltration media; and
sixth one of the filtration stages includes activated carbon.
14. The clothes washer of claim 11 wherein:
the cartridge body is made from a porous polymeric material; and
the polymeric material is impregnated with at least one enzyme.
15. A laundry system, comprising:
a wash water tank; a clothes-washing tub in fluid communication with the wash water tank to enable wash water to be provided from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub, wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the wash water tank is located at a position above a water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub; a wash water sump in fluid communication with the clothes-washing tub to enable wash water to be provided from the clothes-washing tub to the wash water sump, wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the clothes-washing tub is located at a position above a water inlet of the wash water sump thereby enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the clothes-washing tub to the wash water sump; a water filtration structure comprising a filtration cartridge enclosure and a water filtration cartridge, wherein the filtration cartridge enclosure has a water inlet thereof in fluid communication with a water outlet of the wash water sump through an interior space of the filtration cartridge enclosure and has a water outlet thereof in fluid communication with a water inlet of the wash water tank, wherein the water filtration cartridge is removably mounted within an interior space of the filtration cartridge enclosure and wherein the filtration cartridge enclosure and a body of the water filtration cartridge are jointly configured for causing an entire portion of wash water provided into an interior space of the filtration cartridge enclosure to pass through an interior space of the body of the water filtration cartridge before entering the water outlet of the filtration cartridge enclosure; a water vapor condenser in fluid communication with the wash water tank to enable condensed water vapor to be provided from the water vapor condenser to the wash water tank; and an airflow structure comprising a clothes-drying tub, an air handler and the water vapor condenser, wherein the clothes-drying tub, the air handler and the water vapor condenser jointly define an airflow pathway for enabling airflow therethrough in a circuitous manner from the clothes-drying tub to the air handler through the water vapor condenser and from the air handler to the clothes-drying tub.
16. The laundry system of claim 15, further comprising:
a wash water sanitizer that emits ultraviolet light, wherein the wash water sanitizer and at least one of the clothes-washing tub and the wash water sump are jointly configured for exposing wash water to said ultraviolet light.
17. The laundry system of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub.
18. The laundry system of claim 17 wherein a condensed water vapor outlet of the water vapor condenser is located at a position above at least a portion of the interior space of the wash water tank thereby enabling condensed water vapor to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the water vapor condenser to the interior space of the wash water tank.
19. The laundry system of claim 18, further comprising:
a first water pump having a water inlet thereof in fluid communication with the water outlet of the filtration cartridge enclosure and having a water outlet thereof in fluid communication with the water inlet of the first wash water tank.
20. The laundry system of claim 15 wherein:
the wash water tank has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof;
the water outlet of the wash water tank extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof; and
the water outlet of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub.
21. The laundry system of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub.
22. The laundry system of claim 21 wherein:
the wash water sump has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof; and
the water outlet of the wash water sump extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof
23. The laundry system of claim 15 wherein:
the filtration cartridge includes a plurality of filtration stages;
the filter cartridge includes a cartridge body having a plurality of structural segments;
each of said filtration stages is provided within a respective one of structural segments;
said structural segments are arranged in an end-to-end manner; and
adjacent ones of said structural segments are in fluid communication with each other such that wash water flows sequentially through each of said structural segments.
24. A laundry system, comprising:
a washer unit comprising a clothes-washing tub, a wash water tank, a wash water sump, a water filtration structure, a first water pump and a wash water sanitizer, wherein a water outlet of the wash water tank is in fluid communication with a water inlet of the clothes-washing tub, wherein a water outlet of the clothes-washing tub is in fluid communication with a water inlet of the wash water sump, wherein a water inlet of the water filtration structure is in fluid communication with a water outlet of the wash water sump and a water outlet of the water filtration structure is in fluid communication with a water inlet of the wash water tank through the first water pump, wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub, wherein the wash water sanitizer emits ultraviolet light and wherein the wash water sanitizer and at least one of the clothes-washing tub and the wash water sump are jointly configured for exposing wash water to said ultraviolet light; and a dryer unit comprising a clothes-drying tub, an air handler and a water vapor condenser, wherein the clothes-drying tub, the air handler and the water vapor condenser jointly define an airflow pathway for enabling airflow therethrough in a circuitous manner from the clothes-drying tub to the air handler through the water vapor condenser and from the air handler to the clothes-drying tub, wherein a condensed water vapor outlet of the water vapor condenser is located at a position above at least a portion of the interior space of the wash water tank thereby enabling condensed water vapor to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the water vapor condenser to the interior space of the wash water tank.
25. The laundry system of claim 24 wherein the water outlet of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub and the water outlet of the clothes-washing tub is located at a position above the water inlet of the wash water sump thereby enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the wash water sump through the clothes-washing tub.
26. The laundry system of claim 24 wherein a condensed water vapor outlet of the water vapor condenser is in fluid communication with the wash water tank, wherein the condensed water vapor outlet of the water vapor condenser is located at a position above at least a portion of an interior space of the wash water tank thereby enabling condensed water vapor to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the water vapor condenser to the interior space of the wash water tank.
27. The laundry system of claim 24 wherein:
the wash water tank has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof;
the water outlet of the wash water tank extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof; and
the water outlet of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub.
28. The laundry system of claim 27 wherein at least a portion of an interior space of the wash water tank is located at a position above the water inlet of the clothes-washing tub for enabling wash water to be provided solely by gravity-fed flow from the wash water tank to the clothes-washing tub.
29. The laundry system of claim 28 wherein:
the wash water sump has an interior space partially defined by a contoured lower wall thereof;
the contoured lower wall tapers to a water collection region defined by a lowest location of the interior space thereof; and
the water outlet of the wash water sump extends through the contoured lower wall within the water collection region thereof.
Ref US20100101606: Claims:
1-15. (canceled)
16. A method for cleaning a component arranged within a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device, the method comprising:
directing to a rinsing container condensation water that has been acquired in a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer via the drying of wet laundry in the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, the rinsing container being disposed at a higher elevation than a component of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer to be cleaned, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, and the condensation water being directed to the rinsing container from a condensation water tank; releasing water from an outlet side of the rinsing container in a manner that causes the released water to exit the rinsing container in a gush; and guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned, especially onto a component to be cleaned in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the gush of water to be dispensed onto the component is substantially largely equalized in its dispensed volume between the beginning and the end of the dispensing.
18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned includes guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer and the gush of water is guided onto an evaporator area located preferably only at a defined distance from an inlet area of process air into the evaporator.
19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto the component to be cleaned includes guiding the gush of water released from the rinsing container onto a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer and the gush of water is released from the rinsing container onto the evaporator via diversion of water mechanically or electromagnetically along a zone ranging from a starting area provided at a defined distance from an inlet area of process air into the evaporator to an end area lying at a distance from the starting area as viewed in the direction of an outlet area of process air from the evaporator.
20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein directing to a rinsing container condensation water that has been acquired in a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer includes pumping condensation water via a pump out of a condensation water tank into the rinsing container.
21. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein releasing water from an outlet side of the rinsing container includes opening an outlet side of the rinsing container in a sudden manner via actuation of a bistable rinsing container closure.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the actuation of the rinsing container closure is effected thermally or electromagnetically.
23. A device for cleaning a component arranged within a process air circuit of a washer/dryer or tumble dryer, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device, the device comprising:
a rinsing container, the rinsing container being operable to receive, from a condensation water tank, condensation water that has been acquired in a process air circuit of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer via the drying of wet laundry in the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, the rinsing container being disposed at a higher elevation than a component of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer to be cleaned, especially a component in the form of an evaporator of a condenser device of the washer/dryer or tumble dryer, and the rinsing container having an outlet side and a closure component for selectively opening and closing the outlet side, the closure component being operable to release water from the outlet side of the rinsing container in a manner that causes the released water to exit the rins
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