Patents by Inventor Rainer Bicker

Rainer Bicker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12146257
    Abstract: A washing machine and method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and an open or closed loop control device, wherein the method has a step for rearranging the laundry in the drum. The drum is caused to execute a right-left motion by means of the motor so as to cause a rocking motion of the laundry at a rocking frequency, the predetermined rocking amplitude of which is adjusted such that a laundry fall is implemented in which the laundry falls from a first region of the drum into a second region of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Marcel Zielke, Magnus Kortenjann, Dirk Sieding, Rainer Bicker
  • Publication number: 20240309577
    Abstract: A water-conducting electrical device having a water receiving element, an electrochemical cell having electrodes and designed to produce a bleaching agent when it contains a salt-containing solution and a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes, a pump designed to convey fluid located in the electrochemical cell out of the electrochemical cell into the water receiving element, and a control unit configured to selectively apply both DC voltage and AC voltage to the electrodes of the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Rainer BICKER, Werner STROTHOFF, Daniel EBKE, Sebastian OSSWALD
  • Publication number: 20240093905
    Abstract: A heating device for heating water, having a container having an inlet channel and an outlet channel, two spaced-apart plates which act as electrodes and each comprise an electrical connection for connection to an electrical voltage source for generating a current flow through the water located between the plates, wherein at least one plate is mounted movably in order to change the distance between the plates and thereby the volume provided between the plates. A water-conducting device such as a washing machine, dishwasher or hot beverage maker, includes a flow conducting system and a heating device arranged therein, as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel EBKE, Werner STROTHOFF, Rainer BICKER, Volker ENNEN
  • Publication number: 20240053059
    Abstract: A heating device for heating water having a container having an inlet and an outlet, two spaced-apart plates which act as electrodes and are each connected to an electrical voltage source for generating a current flow through the water located between the plates, and a control device for activating and deactivating a valve at the inlet and for activating and deactivating the voltage source. A water-conducting device, such as a washing machine, dishwasher or hot beverage maker, includes a flow line system and a heating device arranged therein, as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel EBKE, Werner STROTHOFF, Rainer BICKER, Volker ENNEN
  • Publication number: 20240052543
    Abstract: A water-bearing electrical apparatus having a water absorption element and an electrochemical cell which has a cathode arranged in a cathode space and an anode arranged in an anode space, which are spatially separated, wherein the electrochemical cell is designed to generate an alkaline partial solution in the cathode space and an acidic partial solution in the anode space when it contains a conductivity transmitter-containing medium and the DC voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, and to heat a fluid located in the cathode and anode spaces when the AC voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode. A method includes generating an alkaline partial solution in the cathode space and an acidic partial solution in the anode space while applying DC voltage, applying AC voltage to heat fluid in the electrochemical cell, and conveying the alkaline partial solution into the water absorption element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Werner STROTHOFF, Daniel EBKE, Rainer BICKER, Sebastian OSSWALD
  • Publication number: 20240044066
    Abstract: A water-bearing electrical apparatus and a method of operating a water-bearing electrical apparatus having a water absorption element, an electrochemical cell, a dosing device for metering a conductivity transmitter-containing detergent and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell. The method includes conducting water into the electrochemical cell, dosing of the conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through it, determining a conductance of the fluid in the electrochemical cell following the prior steps, and setting the determined conductance to a predetermined conductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Werner STROTHOFF, Daniel EBKE, Rainer BICKER
  • Publication number: 20230349086
    Abstract: A washing machine and a method for operating the washing machine having a suds container for receiving water, a rib-free drum, which is rotatably mounted in the suds container, for receiving laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, wherein the method has a pre-ironing phase (Vb) for pre-ironing of the laundry located in the drum, during which phase steam is conducted into the drum and the drum is moved by means of the motor into a right-left pendulum motion, the pendulum rhythm of which is controlled using open-loop or closed-loop control by means of the open-loop or closed-loop control device in such a way that the drum is at least intermittently untouched by the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Dirk SIEDING, Rainer BICKER, Magnus KORTENJANN, Markus DRÜCKER, Steffen LASNER, Benedikt FECHTEL, Marcel ZIELKE
  • Publication number: 20230287618
    Abstract: A method for executing a spin program for a cleaning appliance having a rotatable, non-ribbed drum. A first motion signal is supplied which causes a first rotational motion of the drum in a first direction until the drum has reached a first target rotational speed. A second motion signal is supplied that represents a second rotational motion in a second direction until the drum has reached a second target rotational speed greater than the first target rotational speed. Further first and second motion signals are supplied which causes a further first and second rotational motions in the first and second directions until the drum has reached a further first and second target rotational speeds greater than the second and first target rotational speeds, respectively. A third motion signal causes a third rotation of the drum at the predetermined maximum rotational speed in the direction of the preceding rotational motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Marcel ZIELKE, Magnus KORTENJANN, Dirk SIEDING, Markus DRÜCKER, Benedikt FECHTEL, Steffen LASNER, Rainer BICKER, Uwe FEMMER
  • Publication number: 20230160129
    Abstract: A washing machine and method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and an open or closed loop control device, wherein the method has a step for rearranging the laundry in the drum. The drum is caused to execute a right-left motion by means of the motor so as to cause a rocking motion of the laundry at a rocking frequency, the predetermined rocking amplitude of which is adjusted such that a laundry fall is implemented in which the laundry falls from a first region of the drum into a second region of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Marcel ZIELKE, Magnus KORTENJANN, Dirk SIEDING, Rainer BICKER
  • Publication number: 20230160124
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance and method for operating a cleaning appliance with a rotatable, non-ribbed drum for the pre-treatment and main treatment of textiles. The method comprises a step of supplying a feed signal for feeding a cleaning liquid into a suds container until a predetermined initial fill level is reached. A saturation action causes the textiles to be pre-treated to be saturated with the cleaning liquid. The method includes reading in a fill level signal that represents a fill level of the cleaning liquid, and supplying a further feed signal for feeding the cleaning liquid into the suds container until a target fill level is reached. A motion signal causes a rocking rhythm of the drum for pre-treating the textiles to be pre-treated. After the pre-treatment, an unlocking of a drum door takes place in order to allow additional textiles to be added for a main treatment of the textiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Dirk SIEDING, Rainer BICKER, Magnus KORTENJANN, Markus DRÜCKER, Steffen LASNER, Benedikt FECHTEL, Marcel ZIELKE
  • Publication number: 20230160125
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance and method for operating a cleaning appliance having a suds container and a rotatable drum, wherein the drum is arranged in the suds container, and wherein an inside of a drum casing of the drum is smooth, apart from a plurality of nubs, for causing the cleaning liquid in the drum to execute a wave motion during a cleaning process. The cleaning appliance has a feed unit and a drive. The method includes supplying a feed signal to the feed unit, wherein the feed signal causes a cleaning liquid to be fed into the suds container until a predetermined target fill level is reached. The target fill level causes the textiles to float inside the drum. The method includes supplying a motion signal to the drive when the target fill level is reached in order to cause a rotational motion of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Magnus KORTENJANN, Dirk SIEDING, Rainer BICKER, Steffen LASNER, Benedikt FECHTEL, Markus DRÜCKER, Marcel ZIELKE
  • Publication number: 20230160123
    Abstract: A washing machine and method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding water, a non-ribbed drum rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and an open or closed loop control device. The method allows the execution of a washing program (Wp) having a washing phase (Wa) and/or at least one rinsing phase (Sp), and includes feeding water into the suds container in a first region of the drum in at least one of these phases (Wa, Sp) up to a predetermined water level (h) that is selected such that the laundry floats in the water, and rotating the drum at a predetermined rotational speed such that water is released from a second region of the drum and falls onto the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Rainer BICKER, Markus DRÜCKER, Benedikt FECHTEL, Magnus KORTENJANN, Steffen LASNER, Dirk SIEDING, Marcel ZIELKE
  • Publication number: 20230134851
    Abstract: A detergent activation method for a cleaning appliance having a rotatable non-ribbed drum for holding the textiles) and includes a step of supplying a feed signal to a feed unit of the cleaning appliance. The feed signal causes the cleaning liquid to be fed into a suds container until a predetermined target fill level in the drum is reached. In the supplying step, a motion signal may be supplied to a drive of the cleaning appliance when the target fill level is reached, wherein the motion signal causes a rocking rhythm of the drum. The rocking rhythm defines successive rotational motions of the drum at increasing rotational speeds without a complete revolution of the drum. In the supplying step, a stop signal may be supplied to the drive when a final rotational speed of the rocking rhythm has been reached, to cause the rotational motions of the drum to stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Benedikt FECHTEL, Rainer BICKER, Magnus KORTENJANN, Markus DRÜCKER, Steffen LASNER, Dirk SIEDING, Marcel ZIELKE
  • Publication number: 20230119831
    Abstract: A washing machine and method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum provided with stamped portions rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and a control device. During rotation of the drum in a subcritical rotational speed range, the method includes sampling a variable related to the drum or the motor over a predetermined period of time to determine time signals of the variable, executing a frequency analysis of the time signal of the variable to determine frequency components of the variable in a predetermined frequency range, summing the frequency components at predetermined frequencies of the predetermined frequency range, and detecting, depending on the sum of the summed up frequency components, whether a loading situation where laundry is sliding in the drum is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Rainer BICKER, Magnus KORTENJANN
  • Patent number: 10480112
    Abstract: A method for operating a domestic appliance with a housing, a rotationally movable drum disposed in the housing for receiving laundry, a motor for driving the drum, a control device for controlling the motor, and an evaluation unit. The method, once a program of the domestic appliance has started, includes controlling the motor via the controller such that the drum is driven by the motor and the drum is moved by an angle of less than 90 degrees. Upon attaining the angle the motor is de-energised. The method includes detecting a rotational-speed signal of the drum from when the motor is de-energised over a predetermined first period, and evaluating the detected rotational-speed signals via the evaluation unit by forming a value. The method also includes interrupting the program when the value is greater than a predetermined first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Sieding, Helge Mueller, Bernd Merling, Rainer Bicker, Hartmut Linnemann, Karsten Henn, Jakob Wilken
  • Publication number: 20150167226
    Abstract: A method for operating a domestic appliance with a housing, a rotationally movable drum disposed in the housing for receiving laundry, a motor for driving the drum, a control device for controlling the motor, and an evaluation unit. The method, once a program of the domestic appliance has started, includes controlling the motor via the controller such that the drum is driven by the motor and the drum is moved by an angle of less than 90 degrees. Upon attaining the angle the motor is de-energised. The method includes detecting a rotational-speed signal of the drum from when the motor is de-energised over a predetermined first period, and evaluating the detected rotational-speed signals via the evaluation unit by forming a value. The method also includes interrupting the program when the value is greater than a predetermined first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Sieding, Helge Mueller, Bernd Merling, Rainer Bicker, Hartmut Linnemann, Karsten Henn, Jakob Wilken
  • Patent number: 6915680
    Abstract: A method for determining a surface tension of a solution in a container using a bubble pressure process includes introducing a gas volume flow into the solution using a capillary. A time-dependent pressure profile of the gas volume flow is determined during bubble formation using a pressure sensor. The gas volume flow is interrupted toward the end of the determination process by closing the capillary over the entire cross section of the capillary over at least a part of the length of the capillary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Bicker, Michael Finke, Helge Mueller
  • Publication number: 20040163447
    Abstract: A method for determining a surface tension of a solution in a container using a bubble pressure process includes introducing a gas volume flow into the solution using a capillary. A time-dependent pressure profile of the gas volume flow is determined during bubble formation using a pressure sensor. The gas volume flow is interrupted toward the end of the determination process by closing the capillary over the entire cross section of the capillary over at least a part of the length of the capillary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Bicker, Michael Finke, Helge Mueller