DE102017103176A1 - Method for operating a washing machine and washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine (1) having a washing tub (2), a laundry drum (3) and a metering device (8) for metering a care agent, comprising: determining a dripping saturation value which defines a water binding capacity of the laundry (5) ; and dosing the care agent from the metering device (8) in the tub (2) in dependence on the determined drip saturation value. The invention further relates to a corresponding washing machine (1).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine and a washing machine, in particular with a tub for holding water, a rotatably mounted in the tub laundry drum for receiving laundry and a metering device for metering a care agent.

From a non-printed prior art, a washing machine with a metering device for dosing detergent and care product is known in which after selecting a wash program by a user in the course of the selected wash program one or more component detergent automatically into the tub is dosed, but an automatic dosing of a care agent only takes place when the user has selected the dosing of the care product in addition to the washing program manually. On the one hand, the user can forget the manual selection or, on the other hand, he can use the care product with only partially suitable textiles. In addition, there may be a discrepancy between a desired amount of the care product to be metered and the actually required metering quantity.

The invention thus presents the problem of providing a method for operating a washing machine and a washing machine, in which a care agent is automatically metered into the washing machine as needed.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and a washing machine having the features of patent claim 9. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention will become apparent from the following subclaims.

The achievable with the invention advantages are that no manual activation of the dosage of the care product is necessary, but the care agent is rather automatically dosed into the tub of the washing machine when it is needed. Furthermore, the care agent is not dosed in the washing machine when it is not needed. When dosing the care product, the absorbency of the laundry and thus the textile type of the laundry are taken into account. While a care product is advantageous during the washing process in absorbent textiles such as terry towels, it is disadvantageous for non-absorbent textiles such as functional underwear.

• - Ermitteln eines Abtropfsättigungswertes, der ein Wasserbindevermögen der Wäsche definiert; und
• - Dosieren des Pflegemittels aus der Dosiereinrichtung in den Laugenbehälter in Abhängigkeit des ermittelten Abtropfsättigungswerts.

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine with a tub, a washing drum and a metering device for metering a care agent, comprising:

• Determining a dripping saturation value that defines a water-binding capacity of the laundry; and
• - Dosing the care agent from the metering device in the tub in dependence on the determined drip saturation value.

This method configuration prevents the user from having to manually select the dosage of the care product. Rather, the care agent is automatically metered depending on the water-binding capacity of the laundry.

The metering of the care agent into the tub depends on the determined dripping saturation value. The dripping saturation value is preferably determined as physical quantity l (liters) of water per kg (kilograms) dry weight of laundry. The dripping saturation value represents a continuous process variable that defines the water binding capacity of the laundry in the laundry drum. By determining the dripping saturation value, the composition of the laundry can be determined with respect to its textile types. With the determined dripping saturation value, it is not only possible to distinguish between absorbent and non-absorbent laundry, but also to determine all intermediate stages variably.

In a preferred embodiment of the Abtropfsättigungswert is the water content in the laundry, which is maximal at a drum speed of 40 min ^-1, and in which remains in the washing drum exploiting Knitting water in the washing drum. By the phrase "in which the laundry drum located in the water drum remains in the laundry drum" means that no water leakage takes place from a lateral surface of the laundry drum.

The metering device can supply the care product from a metering unit to the tub as needed. Furthermore, the metering device can preferably be a one-component detergent from a further metering unit or a plurality of components of a multi-component detergent from a plurality add additional dosing units simultaneously and / or with a time delay into the tub if necessary. The metering device can therefore preferably continue to meter detergent into the tub. The care product and the one-component detergent or multi-component detergent are preferably added in liquid form to the tub. The metering of the care agent in the tub and / or the metering of one or more components of the detergent can be done directly or indirectly via another component, for example via a dispenser box of the washing machine.

As used herein, the term "water" includes water or an aqueous liquid in which the water is mixed with one or more other components such as conditioners and / or detergents or its component (s). Position and directional information refer to the operational installation position of the washing machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the care agent from the metering device is dosed into the tub when the drip saturation value is greater than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be different for different selectable washing programs of the washing machine, so that each washing program may be associated with a predetermined threshold, which is deposited in the washing machine. Alternatively, the predetermined threshold is the same for all selectable washing programs of the washing machine. If the dripping saturation value is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, no care agent is dosed into the tub. If the dripping saturation value is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the care agent is metered into the tub. The determined dripping value may be, for example, in the range of 0.5 l / kg to 4 l / kg. In the case of nonabsorbent to less absorbent, for example, functional underwear, it is, for example, in the range of 1.00 to 1.49 l / kg. For example, in the case of very absorbent laundry such as terry towels, it is in the range of 2.51 to 4.00 l / kg, preferably in the range of 2.51 to 3.00 l / kg. For example, in the case of normal-absorbent laundry, it is in the range of 1.50 to 2.00 l / kg. The predetermined threshold is, for example, in the range of 1.70 to 2.70 l / kg, preferably in the range of 2.00 to 2.50 l / kg.

The care product has the function to care for the laundry. D. h., The function is not primarily to wash dirt from the laundry, but to rinse the laundry, strengthen, impregnate or protect it. Preferably, the conditioner is selected from the group consisting of starch, fabric softener, saturant, UV protection, mosquito repellent and / or tick protection. More preferably, the conditioner is a softener. The care agent is preferably liquid.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises a step of determining a loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum. Preferably, furthermore, a metered quantity of the care agent is determined on the basis of the determined loading amount. In a preferred embodiment, the care agent is dosed into the tub when the determined drip saturation value is greater than the predetermined threshold value, and the dosing amount of the care agent is determined based on the determined loading amount. More preferably, the metered amount of the care agent is determined on the basis of the determined loading amount and the determined dripping saturation value. In this preferred embodiment, the care agent is dosed into the tub when the determined drip saturation value is greater than the predetermined threshold, and the dosing amount of the care agent is determined based on the determined loading amount and the determined dripping saturation value. As a result, an optimized dosage amount of the care agent can be provided. A discrepancy between a desired quantity of the care agent to be metered and the amount of metering actually required, i. Over or under dosing of the care product can be avoided.

The determined loading quantity can furthermore be assigned to a loading stage. Loading quantities are each assigned to a loading stage and deposited in the washing machine. For example, a loading level 2 is assigned to a loading amount that is between 2 and 6 kg. A determined loading amount in this loading amount range is therefore assigned to the loading stage 2. The metered amount of the care agent can preferably be determined on the basis of the determined loading amount assigned to the loading stage and more preferably on the basis of the determined dripping saturation value.

Determining a loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum preferably comprises determining a mass moment of inertia of the laundry. Methods for determining a loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum by determining a moment of inertia of the laundry are known. For example, the load quantity in an inertia method is determined by a performance evaluation of the loaded laundry drum during an acceleration phase and a plateau phase. Alternatively, the loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum may be a weighing of the laundry in the Include laundry drum, for example by means of force measuring sensors. The loading amount can be determined based on a measurement of the lowering of the washing unit loaded with the laundry by calculating.

• - Zuführen einer Wassermenge in den Laugenbehälter;
• - Drehen der Wäschetrommel unter Erhöhung der Trommeldrehzahl, Bestimmen einer Füllhöhe von Wasser in dem Laugenbehälter während der Erhöhung der Trommeldrehzahl, und Ermitteln einer Abbruchdrehzahl, bei der die bestimmte Füllhöhe größer ist als eine vorbestimmte Füllhöhe;
• - Ermitteln eines Sättigungswertes der Wäsche, welcher einen Sättigungsgrad der Wäsche mit Wasser angibt, mittels der ermittelten Abbruchdrehzahl und der ermittelten Beladungsmenge; und
• - Ermitteln des Abtropfsättigungswertes mittels der Menge an zugeführtem Wasser, des ermittelten Sättigungswertes und der ermittelten Beladungsmenge.

In a preferred embodiment, ascertaining the dripping saturation value in a first method variant has the following steps in addition to the above-described step of determining the loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum:

• - Supplying a quantity of water in the tub;
• Rotating the laundry drum while increasing the drum speed, determining a level of water in the tub while increasing the drum speed, and determining a stop speed at which the determined level is greater than a predetermined level;
• - Determining a saturation value of the laundry, which indicates a degree of saturation of the laundry with water, by means of the determined Abbruchdrehzahl and the determined loading amount; and
• - Determining the dripping saturation value by means of the amount of supplied water, the determined saturation value and the determined loading amount.

The step of determining a loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum is preferably performed before the step of supplying a quantity of water into the tub, so that the loading amount can be determined as dry weight. After supplying a quantity of water into the tub, the laundry drum is rotated while increasing the drum speed, the filling level of water in the tub is determined during the increase of the drum speed and the Abbruchdrehzahl is determined at which the determined level is greater than the predetermined level. The level of water in the tub during the increase in the drum speed is determined continuously or at predetermined intervals, for example, using a pressure sensor.

The filling level is preferably measured in millimeters of water with a pressure sensor positioned in the lower region of the tub, based on the operating position of the washing machine. From the determined termination speed and the determined loading amount, the degree of saturation of the laundry can be determined because there is an approximately similar relationship between the termination speed, load amount and saturation value. Subsequently, the dripping saturation value is determined by means of the amount of supplied water, the determined saturation value and the determined loading amount. The amount of water supplied to the tub can be determined, for example, by means of a volume flow meter.

In a preferred embodiment, the dripping saturation value is determined from formula (1): $$\begin{array}{l}\text{Abtropfsättigungswert}=\hfill \\ \text{Amount of water supplied}/\left(\text{load size}*\text{saturation value}\right)\hfill \end{array}$$

The dripping saturation value is determined in units of l / kg (liters per kilogram).

The saturation value is a value indicating a degree of saturation of the laundry in the laundry drum with water. Preferably, to determine the saturation value, the saturation value is read out as a function of the termination rotational speed and the loading quantity from a data memory of the automatic washing machine.

Preferably, the amount of water supplied to the tub is an amount such that the saturation value of the laundry is greater than 50%. If a saturation value less than 50% is determined, then the steps of feeding a quantity of water into the tub; Rotating the laundry drum while increasing the drum speed, determining a level of water in the tub while increasing the drum speed, and determining a stop speed at which the determined level is greater than a predetermined level; Determining a saturation value of the laundry and determining a drip saturation value are repeated until the determined saturation value of the laundry is greater than 50%. The feeding of water into the tub can also be carried out, for example, depending on the determined loading amount such that a repetition of these steps is not necessary.

If the drum speed during the increase of the drum speed reaches a predetermined final speed, ie equal to the predetermined final speed, and the particular level is equal to or less than the predetermined filling level, preferably a further amount of water is supplied to the tub and the rotating of the laundry drum is repeated while increasing the drum speed, determining the level of water in the tub while increasing the drum speed and determining the stopping speed. The steps are repeated until the Abbruchdrehzahl can be determined, ie, until the determined level is greater than the predetermined level. The predetermined final speed is preferably the technically possible final speed of the washing machine.

Preferably, the amount of water supplied to the tub is determined. This can be realized, for example, by means of a volume flow meter.

In a preferred embodiment, the determined dripping saturation value is assigned to a selected washing program and stored. Alternatively or additionally, the determined loading amount is also preferably assigned to the selected washing program and stored. Thus, the washing behavior of the washing machine user can be documented. These stored data can continue to be used to determine process parameters. For example, it is possible to set the amount of water to be supplied to the suds container on the basis of the dripping saturation values assigned and stored to the selected washing program.

In another preferred embodiment, determining the dripping saturation value in a second method variant comprises calculating an average of stored drip saturation values associated with a selected wash program. This makes sense, for example, if the dripping saturation value determined in the first method variant described above is outside a predetermined value range and can therefore be erroneous.

The determination of the dripping saturation value can take place in the second method variant after starting the selected washing program. Alternatively, the dripping saturation value in the second method variant can also be determined at the end of the washing program, wherein the determined dripping saturation value is assigned to the selected washing program and stored and the determined assigned and stored drip saturation value is retrieved after the selected washing program has been started again.

The average may be formed by taking a sum of all or some of the drip saturation values associated with the selected washing program and dividing by the corresponding number of drip levels used for the calculation. Preferably, the average is calculated from at least ten, more preferably at least twenty last stored drip levels associated with the selected wash program. Alternatively, the stored drip saturation values are assigned a weight which is taken into account in the calculation. For example, dripping saturation values last stored and associated with the selected washing program are provided with a higher weighting than dripping saturation values stored previously and assigned to the selected washing program.

Preferably, in calculating an average of stored drip counts associated with the selected watch program, the stored drip counts that are within a predetermined range of values are taken into account and the stored drip counts associated with the selected watch program are excluded from the predetermined range of values. Preferably, each wash program is assigned its own value range.

In a preferred embodiment, the determined loading amount is assigned to the selected washing program and the assigned loading amount is stored. Preferably, when determining the dripping saturation value in the second process variant, the loading quantity assigned to the washing program and stored and determined is taken into account. For example, stored drip levels associated with the wash program and determined at the same or similar load level receive a higher weighting than stored drip levels associated with the wash program determined at a dissimilar load level. For example, loading amount ranges are formed for each washing program or are stored in the washing machine so that loading amounts that are within a loaded amount value range are judged to be the same or similar, and loading amounts that are outside of this loading amount value range are unlike get ranked.

In a preferred embodiment, determining the loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum comprises calculating an average of stored load amounts corresponding to the selected washing program are assigned when an error message is generated during or after determining the loading amount of laundry in the laundry drum by means of a moment of inertia of the laundry or weighing the laundry in the laundry drum. As a result, the load quantity can be determined as a function of the user-specific behavior and represent a continuous process variable that is self-learning. As a result, the dosage of the care agent can be optimally adjusted, even if the determined load should be incorrect.

In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned amount of water to be supplied to the tub depends on the dripping saturation value determined by calculating the mean value from drip saturation values associated with stored wash programs associated with the selected wash program, and / or the determined loading amount.

The invention further relates to a washing machine with a tub, a washing drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a metering device for metering a care agent and a control device which is adapted to control the method according to one or more of the described embodiments.

The metering device has a metering unit which is designed for metering the care agent into the tub. In addition to this metering unit, the metering device preferably also has a further metering unit which is designed to dose a one-component detergent into the tub. Alternatively, the metering device may alternatively also have a plurality of further metering units which, for example, each have one component of the multi-component detergent in order to meter several components of a multi-component detergent simultaneously and / or with a time delay into the tub. The conditioner and the one-component detergent or multi-component detergent are preferably contained in liquid form in the dosing units. Each metering unit is preferably connected via a line to the tub. The connection can be realized directly or indirectly, for example via another component such as a Einspülkasten. If the metering device has more than one metering unit, it can be designed in one or more parts. The control device may be formed in one or more parts.

The washing machine can be a washing machine or a combi appliance such as a washer-dryer.

• 1 eine skizzierte, schematische und nicht-maßstabsgerechte Teil-Darstellung eines Waschautomaten.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in a drawing and will be described in more detail below. It shows

• 1 a sketched, schematic and non-scale part representation of a washing machine.

1 shows a sketched, schematic and non-scale part representation of a washing machine. The washing machine 1 has a tub 2 for receiving water (not shown) and rotatable in the tub 2 mounted laundry drum 3 for receiving laundry 5 on. The tub 2 is with a water inlet 9 coupled, which is only partially shown for clarity. The washing machine 1 also has a metering device 8th with a dosing unit (not shown), which via a conduit such as a hose 81 with the tub 2 connected is. The metering device 8th has at least one further dosing unit (not shown), each with a further hose (not shown) with the tub 2 which may be formed in a housing (not shown) with or in a separate housing (not shown) to the dosing unit. The metering device 8th is designed, a care agent (not shown) in the tub 2 to dose. Furthermore, the metering device 8th designed, a one- or multi-component detergent (not shown) in the tub 2 to dose.

One dosing unit contains the care agent, while the other dosing unit contains a liquid one-component detergent or a plurality of further dosing units each contain a liquid component of a multi-component detergent. The water intake 9 and the hose 81 are shown here as separate connections, individually with the tub 2 are connected, but they can also both be connected to another component, for example a Einspülkasten (not shown), via a line (not shown) with the tub 2 connected is. Furthermore, the tub is 2 with a drain device 6 coupled, over the water from the washing machine 1 can be removed.

Furthermore, in the lower part of the tub 2 , based on the operational installation position of the washing machine 1 , a pressure sensor 10 for sensing a pressure value or a filling level of water in the tub 2 arranged. In the lower part of the tub 2 , based on the operational installation position of the washing machine 1 , is optionally also a heating element 7 to heat up in the tub 2 located water. The heating of the water can also be realized in other ways, which are not shown here. Optionally but not necessarily, the washing machine 1 furthermore a flooding device 4 on, which is designed to draw water from a lower area of the tub 2 in an upper area of the tub 2 to promote, based on the operational installation position of the washing machine 1 , Furthermore, the washing machine 1 a controller (not shown) configured to control a method described below

During operation, a selected wash program is started. There will be a load of laundry 5 in the laundry drum 3 determined. Then the tub 2 an amount of water (not shown) supplied. The laundry drum 3 is rotated while increasing the drum speed. Meanwhile, a level of water (not shown) in the tub 2 determined continuously or at predetermined intervals. If the determined level is greater than a predetermined level, a Abbruchdrehzahl is determined in which the determined level is greater than a predetermined level. If the technically possible final speed of the washing machine 1 is achieved without the specific filling level is greater than the predetermined filling level, the laundry drum 3 brought to a standstill. Then the tub 2 Re-fed water, the laundry drum 3 is rotated again increasing the drum speed and becomes a level of water in the tub 2 determined again continuously or at predetermined intervals during the speed increase.

These steps are repeated, if necessary, until the determined filling level is greater than the predetermined filling level, so that the stopping speed can be determined. After determining the termination speed becomes a saturation value of the laundry 5 , which is a degree of saturation of the laundry 5 indicates with water, determined by means of the determined termination speed and the determined load. The saturation value is a function of the termination speed and the loading amount from a data memory (not shown) of the washing machine 1 read. Subsequently, a dripping saturation value which is a water binding capacity of the laundry 5 defined by means of the amount of water supplied, the determined saturation value and the determined loading amount, wherein the drip-saturation value is equal to the amount of supplied water divided by (loading amount times saturation value). The determined dripping saturation value is assigned to the selected washing program and stored. Furthermore, the determined loading amount is assigned to the selected washing program and stored.

When the dripping-saturation value determined in the above manner is out of a predetermined value range, the dripping-saturation value which is the water-binding capacity of the laundry becomes 5 defined, by calculating an average of stored drip saturation values associated with the selected wash program, or by retrieving the calculated drip saturation value obtained last time the selected wash program was calculated by calculating an average of stored drip counts corresponding to the selected wash program are assigned, determined and in the washing machine 1 has been saved.

Depending on the dripping saturation value determined, the care agent (not shown) is removed from the dosing device 8th in the tub 2 dosed. If the determined dripping saturation value is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, no care agent is removed from the dosing means 8th in the tub 2 dosed. If the determined dripping saturation value is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the care agent is removed from the dosing device 8th in the tub 2 dosed. The dosing amount of the care product is determined on the basis of the determined loading amount and the determined dripping saturation value.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Waschvollautomat

2

tub

3

washing drum

4

Umfluteinrichtung

5

Laundry

6

off device

7

heating element

8th

metering

81

tube

9

water supply

10

pressure sensor

Claims (9)

Method for operating a washing machine (1) with a tub (2), a laundry drum (3) and a metering device (8) for metering a care agent, comprising: Determining a dripping saturation value which defines a water-binding capacity of the laundry (5); and - Dosing the care agent from the metering device (8) in the tub (2) in dependence on the determined drip saturation value. Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the care agent from the metering device (8) is metered into the tub (2) when the drip saturation value is greater than a predetermined threshold. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the care agent is a fabric softener. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by determining a load amount of laundry (5) into the laundry drum (3). Method according to Claim 4 , characterized by determining a metered amount of the care agent based on the determined loading amount, preferably determining the metered amount of the care agent based on the determined loading amount and the determined drip saturation value. Method according to Claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the determination of the dripping saturation value comprises the following steps: - supplying a quantity of water into the tub (2); Rotating the laundry drum (3) while increasing the drum speed, determining a level of water in the tub (2) during the increase of the drum speed, and determining a stop speed at which the determined level is greater than a predetermined level; - Determining a saturation value of the laundry (5), which indicates a degree of saturation of the laundry (5) with water, by means of the determined stopping speed and the determined loading amount; and determining the dripping saturation value by means of the quantity of water supplied, the determined saturation value and the determined loading quantity. Method according to claim one of Claims 4 to 6 , characterized in that the determination of a loading amount of laundry (5) in the laundry drum (3) comprises determining a moment of inertia of the laundry (5) or weighing the laundry (5) in the laundry drum (3). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5 and 7 characterized in that determining the drip saturation value comprises calculating an average of stored drip saturation values associated with a selected wash program. Washing machine (1) with a tub (2), a laundry drum (3), a metering device (8) for metering a care agent and a control device which is arranged, a method according to one of Claims 1 to 8th to control.

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