EP0428846B1 - Tumble drier - Google Patents

Tumble drier Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0428846B1
EP0428846B1 EP90117899A EP90117899A EP0428846B1 EP 0428846 B1 EP0428846 B1 EP 0428846B1 EP 90117899 A EP90117899 A EP 90117899A EP 90117899 A EP90117899 A EP 90117899A EP 0428846 B1 EP0428846 B1 EP 0428846B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
temperature
moisture content
air current
tumble drier
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90117899A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0428846A1 (en
Inventor
Karin Heder
Christer Martinsson
Barbro Nordqvist
Hakan Treijner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Asko Cylinda AB
Original Assignee
Asko Cylinda AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Asko Cylinda AB filed Critical Asko Cylinda AB
Publication of EP0428846A1 publication Critical patent/EP0428846A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0428846B1 publication Critical patent/EP0428846B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/08—Control circuits or arrangements thereof
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F58/36—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F58/38—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/28—Air properties
    • D06F2103/32—Temperature
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/28—Air properties
    • D06F2103/34—Humidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/16—Air properties
    • D06F2105/20—Temperature
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/28—Electric heating
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
    • D06F34/26—Condition of the drying air, e.g. air humidity or temperature
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F58/36—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F58/38—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
    • D06F58/40—Control of the initial heating of the drying chamber to its operating temperature

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a tumble drier according to the precharacterising part of claim 1.
  • wash the moisture content of the articles that have been washed
  • the moisture content is too high with the ensuing obvious disadvantages.
  • Interrupting the drying too late entails an unnecessarily high energy consumption, and the too low moisture content of the wash imparts to it an increased tendency to crease and reduced ironability and an increased risk of shrinkage and of static electric charge of the wash.
  • the time it takes to reduce the moisture content to the desired value depends greatly on the quantity of wash in the drum, on the temperature of the injected air, on the moisture content at the beginning of the drying process, and on other factors.
  • Simple timing programs, according to which the drying is interrupted after a predetermined adjustable time therefore provide a wholly unsatisfactory control of the drying process.
  • a temperature sensor which senses the temperature of the exhaust air from the washing drum.
  • the drying is interrupted when this temperature has reached a predetermined value.
  • the moisture content of the wash at the termination of the drying will vary greatly in dependence on, inter alia, the amount of wash in the drum.
  • the method entails the disadvantage that the drying is not interrupted until the temperature of the exhaust air from the drum has risen by a not-insignificant amount above the relatively constant temperature which prevails during the major part of the drying process.
  • this increase of temperature at the end of the drying process entails a considerable risk of damage to the wash, especially for certain synthetic materials.
  • a further prior art method comprises arranging electrodes in the drum for measuring the electrical resistance of the wash, which resistance is dependent on the moisture content. With the aid of this method, however, a reliable measurement of the moisture content cannot be attained down to the low moisture content which corresponds to dry wash. The last part of the drying process is therefore performed under control of a timer, and the final moisture content of the wash will then vary with, inter alia, the amount of wash and the type of material of the wash.
  • a tumble drier is previously known, in which a moisture sensor is arranged to sense the moisture content of the exhaust air from the drum. Drying of the clothes is effected by passing heated air to a basket accommodating the clothes. This air is heated by a gas burner. This burner is controlled continuously between one first predetermined value and a second lower predetermined value whereby the control of the latter is brought about with the help of the moisture content sensor. Also this method has proved to yield unsatisfactory results, and it has proved that the moisture content of the wash upon interruption of the drying process will greatly depend on the amount of wash in the drum and the type of the wash.
  • the invention aims at developing a tumble drier of the above-mentioned kind, in which a desired moisture content of the wash can be obtained, automatically and with great accuracy, at the interruption of the drying process, and this highly independently of factors such as the quantity of wash, the type of wash and the initial moisture content of the wash.
  • the invention offers special advantages in condensation tumble driers, which may be allowed to operate at a high temperature without the risk of damage to the wash.
  • a temperature control system is adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust air of the drum so that this temperature during the latter part of the drying process is maintained at a constant value.
  • this control system is designed as an electronic control system to obtain the desired speed of action and hence accuracy of the temperature control.
  • the accurately constant temperature of the exhaust air thus obtained during the latter part of the drying process results in the actual moisture content of the wash, at the termination of the drying process, corresponding with high accuracy to the desired moisture content.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows the design and functioning of a tumble drier according to the invention. It has a drum 1 for the wash to be dried. The drum can be rotated relatively slowly around an axis A-A. The two end walls of the drum have openings 20a, 20b for the inlet and outlet, respectively, of an air current for drying the wash. On either side of the drum there are end pieces 21a, 21b, to which a closed air channel 25 for circulation of the air current is connected. The end pieces are sealed against the end walls of the drum with the aid of sliding seals 22a, 22b.
  • the air current is circulated by a fan 3.
  • the fan may suitably be driven by the same drive motor 8 ( Figure 2) that rotates the drum 1, and in the following this is assumed to be the case.
  • the air flowing out of the drum is passed to a condenser 4 for separation of water from the air.
  • the condenser In the condenser the air is cooled, and part of the moisture content of the air is precipitated in the form of water, which is discharged.
  • the condenser In tumble driers for use in households, the condenser is normally air-cooled with the aid of the surrounding air, but also other cooling methods, for example water cooling, may be used. After its exit from the condenser, the cooled and dehumidified air is led past an electric heating element 5, with the aid of which the flowing air is heated to the desired extent.
  • a moisture content sensor 6 and a temperature sensor 7 are arranged in the air channel section 25a, between the drum 1 and the condenser 4, a moisture content sensor 6 and a temperature sensor 7 are arranged. These two sensors sense the conditions in the air flowing out of the drum 1 and their modes of operation will be described in the following.
  • FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control system of the tumble drier.
  • the functions of the control system are controlled by a microprocessor 9 with associated memory members (not shown) for storing the program and working data for the control.
  • a control console 14 is connected to the microprocessor.
  • the control console is provided with a starting button 141, which, when being depressed, delivers a starting signal ST to the microprocessor. This causes the microprocessor to start operating in accordance with a prestored program and to control the execution of the programmed drying process.
  • a selector switch 142 With the aid of a selector switch 142 the value of a signal F can be set, which indicates the desired moisture content of the wash at the termination of the drying process.
  • the position A, B and C of the selector switch give values of the signal F which correspond to "extra dry” wash, “dry” wash and wash “ready for ironing and mangling".
  • the desired drying temperature TO may be set.
  • the position D may correspond to a temperature of 50°C and the position E to a temperature of 70°C.
  • the tumble drier is connected to an alternating voltage source via a main switch 16.
  • a voltage supply unit 15 delivers the necessary operating voltages to the control system of the tumble drier.
  • the main alternating voltage is also supplied to the drive motor 8 of the tumble drier via a driver 11 and to the heating element 5 via a driver 13.
  • These drivers may consist of relays or - preferably,- of suitable semiconductor members, such as transistors or thyristors.
  • the drivers are controlled from the microprocessor 9 by digital control signals M and E supplied therefrom. When one of these signals assumes the value "1", the associated operating member (the motor 8 and the element 5, respectively) is switched on, and when the signal assumes the value "0", the associated operating member is switched off.
  • the sensor is connected to the microprocessor 9 via a measured value converter 61, which delivers to the processor a signal f which indicates the moisture content of the air current, i.e. its water content per unit of volume.
  • the temperature sensor 7 suitably consists of the thermistor.
  • the sensor senses the temperature in the air current upon its exit from the drum.
  • the sensor signal is transformed via a measured value converter 71 into a form suitable for the microprocessor.
  • the signal T received by the processor is thus a measure of the temperature of the air current upon its exit from the drum.
  • Figure 3 shows in the form of a flow chart the mode of operation of the control system during a drying process.
  • the microprocessor By pressing the starting button (block 101), the microprocessor is caused to start executing its stored-in program. First it is checked whether the door of the tumble drier is closed (block 102). If this is the case, the signal M (block 103) is set at the value "1". This causes the drive motor 8 to start rotating the drum 1 and the fan 3 and thus the air current to circulate. Thereafter (block 104), the variable E is set at "1", the heating element 5 thus being switched on.
  • the microprocessor periodically senses (block 105) whether the moisture content f, which is sensed at that particular time, exceeds the stored value of the variable fm. If this is the case, the sensed moisture content is stored as the new value of the variable fm (block 106). This successive increase of the variable fm will proceed until the condition in block 105 is no longer fulfilled. This occurs at the time t1 in Figure 4. The variable fm will then remain unchanged and indicate the highest moisture content sensed during the drying process.
  • the sensed moisture content may vary in an irregular manner. It may therefore be suitable not to start the sensing of the moisture content until a predetermined period of time, for example 5 minutes, has passed after start-up. The conditions have then had time to stabilize so that the sensed moisture content is continuously increasing.
  • the program has a loop for temperature control which consists of the blocks 107-110.
  • the microprocessor sets two temperature limits T2 and T1, which are, respectively, somewhat higher and somewhat lower than the temperature T0.
  • T2 and T1 which are, respectively, somewhat higher and somewhat lower than the temperature T0.
  • block 107 it is checked whether the, sensed temperature exceeds the value T2. If this is the case, the signal E is set at the value "0" and the heating element 5 is switched off. If the sensed temperature does not exceed the value T2, it is compared in block 108 with the value T1. If the sensed temperature is lower than this value, the signal E is set at the value "1" (block 109), the program then returning via block 109 to block 105. If the sensed temperature is not lower than the value T1, the program directly returns to block 105. With the aid of this electronic temperature control, the temperature of the exhaust air from the drum, once the temperature has reached its steady state, will be maintained very accurately at the set value T0.
  • the value df is set by the microprocessor in accordance with the value F - set with the aid of the control console - of the desired final moisture content of the wash. The greater the set value of df, the lower will be the final moisture content of the wash.
  • the appearance of the curve which indicates the sensed moisture content as a function of the time will vary considerably in dependence on, for example, the quantity of wash, the initial moisture content of the wash, the type of wash and the selected working temperature.
  • an increase of the amount of wash will entail an increase of the moisture content sensed during the drying process.
  • a decrease of the working temperature will entail an extension of the drying process.
  • the desired final moisture content of the wash will be reached with high accuracy independently of such variations.
  • the invention has been described above in connection with a condensation tumble drier, where - as mentioned in the introduction - it provides special advantages.
  • the invention may also be used with other types of tumble driers, for example an exhaust air tumble drier, where no recirculation of the air current occurs.
  • the output signals from the sensors 6 and 7 will unavoidably contain a certain amount of noise, which may disturb the function of the control system.
  • the sensor signals may suitably be filtered.
  • a filtering may be carried out with the aid of hardware filters, for example built into the measured value converters 61 and 71, or by any conventional method for digital filtering in the processor or by a combination of these two methods.
  • the microprocessor takes care of the temperature control, but, alternatively, a separate temperature regulator of analog or digital type may be arranged to take care of the temperature control.
  • the work of the tumble drier is controlled by a microprocessor programmed in a suitable way.
  • the corresponding control functions may be obtained with the aid of a specially built analog or digital control system.
  • the temperature control is carried out with the aid of switching on and-off of the heating element 5.
  • the temperature control may be carried out by continuously varying the heating power of the heating element, for example with the aid of phase angle control or controlled pulsing of the voltage supplied to the element.
  • the tumble drier has one single heating element 5.
  • it may be provided with two heating elements with different power ratings, the heating element with the higher rating being used at the higher of the two settable working temperatures and the heating element with the lower rating being used at the lower working temperature. In this way, a more accurate temperature control can be achieved.
  • the effect of the heating element may be reduced to a low value, at this time so that a slight heating of the air current takes place also during the cooling phase.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
EP90117899A 1989-09-22 1990-09-18 Tumble drier Expired - Lifetime EP0428846B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8903125A SE464710B (sv) 1989-09-22 1989-09-22 Torktumlare
SE8903125 1989-09-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0428846A1 EP0428846A1 (en) 1991-05-29
EP0428846B1 true EP0428846B1 (en) 1995-12-06

Family

ID=20376953

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90117899A Expired - Lifetime EP0428846B1 (en) 1989-09-22 1990-09-18 Tumble drier

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0428846B1 (no)
DE (1) DE69024029T2 (no)
FI (1) FI904646A0 (no)
NO (1) NO904064L (no)
SE (1) SE464710B (no)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2275992B (en) * 1993-03-08 1997-01-08 Europ Gas Turbines Ltd Process and apparatus for drying articles or materials
FR2729470A1 (fr) * 1995-01-17 1996-07-19 Ciapem Dispositif de mesure du degre de sechage dans un seche-linge
DE19725536C2 (de) * 1997-06-17 2000-06-15 Miele & Cie Verfahren zum Steuern der Heizleistung eines Wäschetrockners
FR2770631B1 (fr) * 1997-11-05 2000-02-11 Esswein Sa Procede d'optimisation de la consommation d'energie d'une machine de sechage par courant d'air de produits ou materiaux disposes dans une enceinte
PL1736761T3 (pl) * 2005-06-24 2011-12-30 Electrolux Home Products Corp Nv Suszarka z czujnikiem wilgotności
ES2343011T3 (es) * 2005-11-23 2010-07-21 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Secadora de ropa por volteo y metodo para controlarla.
EP2591162B1 (en) * 2010-07-09 2016-04-20 LG Electronics Inc. Method for operating clothes treating apparatus
EP2570548A1 (en) * 2011-09-19 2013-03-20 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. A washer-dryer with at least one condenser
EP2434047A3 (de) * 2011-12-22 2012-06-13 V-Zug AG Haushaltgerät, insbesondere Wäschetrockner
ES2489917B1 (es) * 2013-02-25 2016-01-21 Fagor, S.Coop. Método para secar la ropa contenida en una secadora de ropa y secadora de ropa que implementa dicho método
DE102016110871B4 (de) * 2016-05-19 2019-05-29 Miele & Cie. Kg Wäschetrockner
DE102016110883A1 (de) * 2016-05-19 2017-11-23 Miele & Cie. Kg Wäschetrockner
DE102017200177A1 (de) * 2017-01-09 2018-07-12 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Wäschebehandlungsgerät und Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Wäschebehandlungsgeräts
KR102616492B1 (ko) * 2017-01-13 2023-12-21 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치의 제어방법

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0388939A1 (en) * 1989-03-24 1990-09-26 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Device and method for controlling operation of clothes dryer

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3088221A (en) * 1959-06-29 1963-05-07 Gen Motors Corp Time comparator or drier control
GB901954A (en) * 1960-05-19 1962-07-25 Gen Motors Corp Improvements in or relating to clothes dryers

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0388939A1 (en) * 1989-03-24 1990-09-26 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Device and method for controlling operation of clothes dryer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69024029T2 (de) 1996-09-05
NO904064L (no) 1991-03-25
FI904646A0 (fi) 1990-09-20
EP0428846A1 (en) 1991-05-29
SE464710B (sv) 1991-06-03
SE8903125L (sv) 1991-03-23
SE8903125D0 (sv) 1989-09-22
DE69024029D1 (de) 1996-01-18
NO904064D0 (no) 1990-09-18

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