Domestic appliance having a surface which comprises a photocatalyst
View Patent ↗A domestic appliance includes at least one component having a surface that can become laden with organic dirt. The surface includes a photocatalyst and is made from a primary-formed first material in which the photocatalyst is dispersed. A photoradiation source is provided for irradiating the photocatalyst with an activating electromagnetic radiation.
1. A domestic appliance, comprising:
at least one component having a surface that is prone to accumulate organic dirt as a result of use of the appliance, said surface comprising a photocatalyst and being made from a primary-formed first material in which the photocatalyst is dispersed; and
a photoradiation source for irradiating the photocatalyst with an activating electromagnetic radiation.
2. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst is a filler in the first material.
3. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first material is a first polymer material filled with the filler.
4. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first material is a thermoplastics material filled with the filler.
5. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first material is provided as a layer on the surface and covers a second material.
6. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst is a semiconductor mineral.
7. The domestic appliance of claim 6 , wherein the mineral comprises particles having a mean diameter d of less than or equal to 10 nm.
8. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst is a mineral essentially made of titanium dioxide.
9. The domestic appliance of claim 8 , wherein the titanium dioxide is provided in an anatase form.
10. The domestic appliance of claim 8 , wherein the titanium dioxide has a doping of carbon.
11. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photoradiation source is configured to emit the electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range covering visible light and ultraviolet light.
12. The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the photoradiation source is configured to emit the electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 400 nm.
13. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photoradiation source is an arrangement with at least one light-emitting diode.
14. The domestic appliance of claim 13 , wherein the arrangement comprises at least six light-emitting diodes.
15. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , constructed in the form of a dishwasher or a laundry treatment device.
16. The domestic appliance of claim 15 , further comprising at least one component which can be exposed to a washing solution, said component comprising the surface in which the photocatalyst is dispersed.
17. The domestic appliance of claim 16 , wherein the component is a member selected from the group consisting of laundry agitator and washing solution container.
18. The domestic appliance of claim 15 , wherein the photoradiation source is arranged in a vicinity of an access opening of the dishwasher or a laundry treatment device.
19. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , constructed in the form of a laundry treatment device belonging to a member selected from the group consisting of washing machine, laundry drier and washer-drier.
20. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photoradiation source is a light source of an optical sensor having a light sensor.
21. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , further comprising an odor sensor.
22. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first material is a thermoplastics material.
23. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the photoradiation source comprises multiple discrete sources.
24. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the photocatalyst with an activating electromagnetic radiation results in the creation of activated oxygen.
25. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component comes into physical contact with items placed into the domestic appliance to be cleaned.
26. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component supports a second component which comes into physical contact with items placed into the domestic appliance to be cleaned.
27. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component comes into contact with organic dirt during or as a result of a wash cycle.
28. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the domestic appliance is a washing machine.
29. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component is an inaccessible component, the inaccessible component being a portion of the domestic appliance which is not visible to a user while loading or unloading the appliance.
30. The domestic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the component is located in a section of the appliance which is in contact with stagnant air when not in an active cycle.
31. The domestic appliance of claim 29 , wherein the component is a washing machine.
32. A method, comprising:
making a surface of at least one component of a domestic appliance from a primary-formed first material;
dispersing in the surface a photocatalyst; and
activating the photocatalyst by a photoradiation source through irradiation with electromagnetic radiation for cleaning the surface that can become laden with organic dirt.