EP1644566B1 - Washing and rinsing method for a washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a method for improving the washing effect of washing in a washing machine with a laundry drum, which is temporarily driven at varying speeds and directions during the washing and rinsing process, to washing and less sensitive laundry, wherein in a phase of intensive laundry flow the Laundry drum in one direction of rotation to a speed well above the application speed - so-called wash-spin - and in the other direction of rotation is accelerated to a speed well below the application speed. The application speed is the speed at which the laundry items just start to adhere to the drum wall due to the centrifugal force caused.

Such a procedure is over EP 0 618 323 A1 known. In this process, the textiles during washing and / or rinsing operation at a speed well below the system speed record water, which is then expelled when operating at a speed well above the application speed again from the textiles. The speed and direction of rotation is selected for an existing scooping device such that this scooping device additionally supports the water absorption of the textiles. Thus, a good flooding of the laundry is achieved in this known method. A weakness of this method has an effect especially on large loadings of laundry. In fact, only a small laundry mechanics is exercised on the laundry items. When operating the laundry drum at speeds well below the application speed, the laundry performs a so-called rolling motion. The laundry mechanics, consisting of compression and friction between the individual items of laundry is considerably reduced in the known method during operation at speeds well below the application speed. When driving the laundry drum above the application speed, they are even completely missing, since the individual laundry items rest firmly on the laundry drum wall.

Such or similar methods are due to the process-related reduced laundry mechanics for washing particularly sensitive or only hand-washable textiles suitable.

A procedure for intensive washing of the laundry is also off DE 37 41 177 A1 known. The process described therein shows a weakness in the laundry redistribution of laundry items in particular large laundry loads, ie the targeted repositioning of internal pieces in the outer region of the laundry item and vice versa during the washing and / or rinsing process.

EP 0 781 881 A1 discloses another method for washing laundry, wherein during the washing and rinsing process, the washing drum of a washing machine with alternating directions of rotation is driven. In a first phase, the laundry drum is accelerated to a speed lying well above the application speed and in a reverse direction of rotation to a speed lying well below the application speed. In addition, the method detects EP 0 781 881 A1 at least one more phase of high laundry mechanics.

In the known methods, a reduced laundry mechanism is applied to the laundry to be washed at the expense of improved laundry throughput. In particular, with less sensitive laundry is achieved by the reduced laundry mechanics too low cleaning effect. Thus, no optimal washing result is achieved. In addition, in the methods described above, the laundry is not redistributed sufficiently well for large and very large loadings of laundry. For example, inside the laundry drum inside laundry parts do not reach the outer edge of the drum. It is thus exercised on the individual items of laundry a very different, dependent on their respective position, mechanics. This results within a Wäschepostens a very different washing result for inside and outside laundry. In addition, outboard laundry often clumps due to their intense local drainage. Again, this effect leads to the reduction of Laundry mechanics of individual laundry items and an uneven washing result.

The invention has for its object to provide for the method described above, a mode of operation during the washing and / or rinsing process, in which a high laundry mechanism for cleaning less sensitive laundry is maintained and especially for large loads a good laundry redistribution takes place. In addition, an improvement in the uniform washing effect of a Wäschepostens and a reduction in water, detergent and energy consumption is desirable.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and by the washing machine according to claim 8, wherein within the washing and / or rinsing process, the laundry drum in at least one phase, "intensive laundry throughput" and driven in at least one other phase "high laundry mechanics" These phases follow each other at least once during the washing and / or rinsing process. In the phase of "intensive washing throughput", the washing drum is rotated in one direction to a speed significantly above the application speed, ie at one speed the peripheral speed of the washing drum is in the other direction of rotation accelerates to a second speed significantly below the application speed In the "high laundry mechanics" phase, the laundry drum in both directions of rotation at speeds at which the individual laundry items heavily compressed become and strong a rub together, accelerate.

Fig. 1

ein Drehzahldiagramm für einen erfindungsgemäß gestalteten Wasch- und/oder Spülzyklus,

Fig. 2

ein weiteres Beispiel eines Wasch- und/oder Spülzyklus, dargestellt an einem Drehzahldiagramm und

Fig. 3

schematische Darstellung der Wäschebewegung eines Wäschepostens mittlerer Beladungsmenge bei unterschiedlichen Trommeldrehzahlen:

1. a) bei ca. 35 1/min
2. b) bei ca. 50 1/min
3. c) bei ca. 100 1/min,

Fig. 4

schematische Darstellung der Wäschebewegung eines Wäschepostens großer Beladungsmenge bei unterschiedlichen Trommeldrehzahlen:

1. a) bei ca. 35 1/min
2. b) bei ca. 50 1/min
3. c) bei ca. 100 1/min und

Fig. 5

schematische Darstellung der Wäschebewegung bei der erfindungsgemäßen Wäscheumverteilung eines Wäschepostens großer Beladungsmenge:

1. a) Trommeldrehzahl ca. 150 1/min
2. b) Drehen der Trommel in Gegenrichtung bei ca. 35 1/min.

The advantages of the invention, further embodiment of the invention, the method according to the invention and a washing machine for carrying out the method are described in greater detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments and drains shown in the drawings. Show it

Fig. 1

a speed diagram for an inventively designed washing and / or rinsing cycle,

Fig. 2

another example of a washing and / or rinsing cycle, shown on a speed diagram and

Fig. 3

schematic representation of the laundry movement of a laundry load of average load at different drum speeds:

1. a) at about 35 1 / min
2. b) at about 50 1 / min
3. c) at about 100 rpm,

Fig. 4

schematic representation of the laundry movement of a laundry lot of large load quantity at different drum speeds:

1. a) at about 35 1 / min
2. b) at about 50 1 / min
3. c) at about 100 1 / min and

Fig. 5

schematic representation of the laundry movement in the laundry redistribution according to the invention of a laundry lot of large load:

1. a) Drum speed approx. 150 1 / min
2. b) Turn the drum in the opposite direction at approx. 35 rpm.

In order to make the flow of laundry with caustic intensive, is in the known method according to EP 0 618 323 A1 the laundry drum during the washing and / or rinsing process in the opposite directions of rotation at different speeds. During a section in which the drum is operated at a speed significantly below the application speed, the laundry lye take on. In a second section, in which the laundry drum is operated significantly above the application speed, the liquor is driven out of the laundry again. The released liquor accumulates in the tub and thereby increases the level of free liquor in the container. The thus increased level favors the renewed water or alkali absorption of the laundry during the subsequent, rotating at low speed (eg., 25 to 40 1 / min) drum. This speed (scooping speed) is optimized for washing machines whose laundry drums are equipped with scooping devices. During the creation of the free liquor no large laundry mechanics is achieved because the drum speed is too low for this purpose. The laundry leads, as in Fig. 3a shown for a half-full loaded laundry drum, during rotation of the drum with a scooping speed from a rolling motion. Less sensitive textiles can be washed at a much higher rate than the laundry washing mechanism described above. In particular, in the case of the less sensitive textiles, despite sufficient flow through the textile, adequate washing and rinsing performance are not achieved. Thus, either program run times must be increased or more detergent used to compensate for the lack of washing performance.

In contrast to the known processes, in the process according to the invention in the washing and / or rinsing process both at least one phase (A) of intense laundry flow, a phase in which textile absorbs and releases liquor, and at least one phase (B) of high laundry chemistry, z. B. drum speed 50 1 / min, available. The phase (B) is characterized in that the laundry items are raised when turning the drum so far that they then fall back due to the acceleration of gravity back into the bottom of the drum. This movement sequence of the laundry within a half-full laundry drum is in Fig. 3b shown. In this process, much more mechanics is applied to the textile, as in a rolling motion, z. B. in the above-described "scooping". The laundry drum is driven alternately in each direction, ie in the so-called reversing operation. The duration and the sequence of the phase of intensive laundry flow, the operation of the laundry drum at well above and well below the application speed, and the duration and sequence of the phase high laundry mechanics are chosen so that the washing and rinsing is increased by the laundry mechanics so far that a short program runtime and / or a reduced use of detergent is achieved.

When Reversierbetrieb a half fully loaded laundry drum a certain shift of the laundry is effected. The lifting of the laundry is supported by attached to the drum so-called driver. A driver can be represented by a partially drawn inward drum shell as well as by an approximately triangular profiled, attached to the drum shell plastic part. Carrier have a symmetrical or asymmetrical cross section. Drum drums equipped with asymmetrical drivers are often driven in reversing mode with a different speed for each direction of rotation (eg 50 and 60 r / min). In the case of a fully loaded laundry drum, there is not enough free space within the drum in which the laundry changes during reversing operation. The operation of a fully loaded laundry drum when "scooping" is in the Fig. 4a and in the phase of high laundry mechanics is in Fig. 4b shown. Unlike the operation in a half fully loaded laundry drum, the individual items of laundry hinder each other in their movement, so that during the Schöpfbetriebes and the phase of high laundry mechanics, the laundry does not change over.

If the speed of the laundry drum is well above the system speed and at the same time well below the resonance speed, this speed is not sufficient, especially for large loadings laundry to compress the laundry lot strong. This means that a relatively small force is exerted on the inner laundry and the laundry dehumidification of these textiles will therefore be lower than with the outer textiles. By way of illustration, the compression of the laundry in a laundry drum, which is driven at a rotational speed which is significantly below the resonance (for example 100 1 / min), is shown in FIG Fig. 3c for a half full and in Fig. 4c shown for a full load. Furthermore, the space becoming vacant in the fully loaded laundry drum is so small that a laundry redistribution of the laundry items from inside to outside can not take place. During the operating phases of intensive laundry flow and high laundry mechanics, a sufficient load redistribution is not achieved with a fully loaded laundry drum. The significantly reduced redistribution of laundry in the drum results in the laundry item being flooded unevenly and mechanically treated, thereby unevenly cleaning the textiles of this laundry item.

In an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, therefore, a significantly higher speed (eg 150 l / min) is selected for the "spin-spinning" in order to compress the laundry lot significantly better, as shown in FIG Fig. 5a , As a result, a larger free area is created in the drum room in addition. Thus, the subsequent counter-rotation of the laundry drum causes external sloping laundry items to roll into the inner area. This process of unwinding the laundry is schematically, for example, at a drum speed 35 1 / min in Fig. 5b illustrated. By rotating the laundry drum in the opposite direction, the roles of Laundry in the inner area of the Wäschepostens advantageously supported. Furthermore, an immediate restart after the drum outlet is to be aimed at in order to counteract an uncontrolled collapse of the laundry without further rearrangement.

In order to avoid overstressing the drive or the tub assembly, in an advantageous development of the invention, especially during the portion of the spin-washing, which monitors forming imbalance and aborted when exceeding a predetermined limit value of the washing-centrifugal operation. To determine the imbalance, for example, means for determining the tub-oscillating travel, the motor current, torque, the speed or their time derivatives are.

During the wash-spin operation, it is likewise necessary to avoid immersing the inner drum in the liquor which is freely present in the tub so as not to cause additional foaming. Advantageously, a means for monitoring the foam is used and aborted when exceeding a predetermined limit, the wash-spin operation. To determine the foam in the tub are, for example, means for determining the hydrostatic pressure, the motor current, torque, the speed or their time derivatives. With a suitable choice of the monitoring means, for. B. a device for engine speed monitoring, an imbalance and foam monitoring can be advantageously combined.

As already mentioned in the preceding remarks, the processes for the transfer of laundry are heavily dependent on the amount of load. In addition to the quantity, the absorbency and the type of textile in the process design must also be taken into account. As a result of usage, a user of a washing machine uses a wide range of different laundry items and quantities in washing appliances. Therefore, means for determining the type and / or amount of laundry are advantageously used to depend on the rotational speeds (n1 to n3), section times (.DELTA.t1 to .DELTA.t6) and the duration (.DELTA.t A, .DELTA.t B) and sequence of phases (A and B) of intensive laundry flow and high laundry mechanics. As a suitable means for determining the laundry weight integrated force or displacement sensors can serve, for example, in the washing machine. These sensors are so arranged in the device or on the spring-mounted oscillating system (tub container assembly) that a change in the known oscillating system weight or the known rest position can be determined by the additional laundry weight. From a determination of the lye taken up by the laundry (for example by means of a flow or pressure sensor) and from the associated time course, it is also possible to deduce the amount, type and absorbency of the textiles to be washed.

The user of a washing machine specifies by his choice of program (eg cooking linen, easy-care, wool) how sensitive the textiles to be washed are. It has proven to be particularly advantageous, the drum speed (n1 to n3), section times (.DELTA.t1 to .DELTA.t6) and the duration (.DELTA.t A, .DELTA.t B) and sequence of phases "intensive laundry throughput" (A) and "high laundry" (B ) depending on the program selection to adapt the laundry mechanics to the sensitivity of the textiles.

In the example, shown in the FIG. 1 , the drum, which has a diameter of 470 mm, is accelerated in the clockwise direction gently to a speed (n3) of + 50 1 / min, lingers for a duration At1 at this speed and is then returned to a speed 0 1 / min , After a standstill time Δt2, the process is repeated in reverse rotation of the drum. Whereby the dwell time Δt3 during left-hand rotation can differ from the corresponding dwell time Δt1 of the clockwise rotation. This reversing process is repeated for the duration .DELTA.t.sub.B of the phase (B) high laundry mechanics. Following this phase, the drum is gently accelerated in the clockwise direction to a speed (n1) of + 150 rpm, lingers for a period Δt4 at this speed and is then returned to a speed 0 to immediately into the left-hand phase with a Speed (n2), for example, 35 1 / min for the duration .DELTA.t5 to be converted. After a standstill period Δt6, the process is repeated until the duration Δt A of the phase (A) the intensive laundry flow is reached. Afterwards, a phase (B) of high laundry is again carried out. The indicated periods of time (.DELTA.t1 to .DELTA.t6, .DELTA.t.sub.A and .DELTA.t.sub.B) can be varied in every possible combination and, in the extreme case, can be single or all zeroes.

In FIG. 2 is opposite FIG. 1 a slightly different speed curve for the phase (B) of the high laundry mechanics shown. Here, the speeds of the right and left rotation differ, for example, adapted to asymmetric drivers.

The specified speed values n1, n2 and n3 are freely selectable within the limits specified by the claims. To achieve an optimum of effects must be taken into account for the selection of the speed in particular fixed machine parameters resulting from the dimension of the laundry drum, their flood holes, the driver, the scooping device and the resonance speed. When choosing the speed of the radius of the laundry drum is particularly important, since the radius determines the application speed mainly. Therefore, the advantageous nominal values of the speeds are predetermined by the specification of the peripheral speed of the laundry drum.

For the application of the method according to the invention a washing machine with a speed control device for the drive motor of the laundry drum is provided. Control signals for the drive motor can be generated by the speed control device in such a way that the laundry drum can be driven temporarily with changing directions of rotation at different speeds in at least one phase (A) of intensive laundry flow and at least one phase (B) of high laundry mechanics is. The washing machine can in addition to the speed control device with other control devices such. B. a control electronics or power electronics. These control devices are interconnected by means of data or bus lines. Thus, by a power and / or control electronics, a control command or a control command sequence can be generated and transmitted via the data or bus line to the speed control device.

This control command or this control command sequence causes a control signal for the drive motor can be generated by the speed control device such that the laundry drum in the washing and / or rinsing process in at least one phase (A) intensive laundry flow and at least one phase (B) high Laundry mechanism is driven.

Variable values, such as load, type of laundry, washing program, laundry imbalance and foaming, can also be advantageously taken into account and influence the choice of speeds and dwell times when the washing machine corresponding, z. B. described above, includes means for detecting and evaluating the variable values. The speed control device is designed such that the formation of control signals by the speed control device for the drive motor is dependent on these variable values. For this purpose, the facilities -. B. Sensors - connected to determine the variable values either directly or indirectly by means of data or bus lines to the speed control device.

The above statements show a method and means for carrying out the method, which brings a very close to the optimum and within a laundry cost uniform washing effect and thus a reduction in water, detergent and energy consumption is achieved.

Claims (11)

1. Method for improving the washing action of less-delicate laundry to be washed in a washing machine having a laundry drum, which is intermittently driven with alternating directions of rotation during the washing and rinsing process, wherein in one phase (A) the laundry drum in the one direction of rotation (+) is accelerated to a first rotational speed (n1) significantly above the settling speed, wherein the nominal value of the first rotational speed (n1) is selected such that the items of laundry disposed on the drum shell are compressed and can fall back into the interior of the drum unhindered when the rotational speed is reduced, in other words at the first rotational speed (n1), the peripheral speed of the laundry drum is greater than or equal to 3.7 m/s, and in the other direction of rotation (-) the laundry drum is accelerated to a second rotational speed (n2) significantly below the settling speed, wherein the peripheral speed of the laundry drum at the second rotational speed (n2) is less than or equal to 1.0 m/s, within the washing and/or rinsing process the laundry drum in at least one further phase (B) in both directions of rotation (+ and -) is accelerated to rotational speeds (n3) with a high mechanical washing action, at which the peripheral speed of the laundry drum at the speed (n3) for high mechanical washing action lies in the interval between 1.1 to 1.6 m/s and that these phases (A and B) within the washing and/or rinsing process follow one another at least once, characterised in that immediately after the drum has come to rest, the laundry drum is accelerated from a first rotational speed (n1) to a second rotational speed (n2) in the other direction of rotation (-) and that the nominal value of the second rotational speed (n2) has a magnitude at which, during rotation of the laundry drum in the other direction of rotation, items of laundry dropping off from the outer surface fall into the interior drum area which is enlarged by compressing the items of laundry.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the peripheral speed of the laundry drum at the first rotational speed (n1) is equal to 3.7 m/s.
3. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, in particular for the stage at which the laundry drum is driven at a rotational speed above the settling speed, having a device for monitoring the formation of foam and/or an unbalanced load, characterised in that if a defined limit value for the formation of foam and/or an unbalanced load is exceeded, the drive of the laundry drum is interrupted.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the rotational speeds (n1 to n3), the respective acceleration to these rotational speeds and/or their duration (Δt1 to Δt6) can be changed as a function of measured values which specify the type and/or quantity of the laundry load.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the rotational speeds (n1 to n3), the respective acceleration to these rotational speeds and/or their duration (Δt to Δt6) can be changed as a function of the selected washing program.
6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the duration (Δt A to Δt B) and/or the sequence of the phases (A and B) can be changed as a function of measured values, which specify the type and/or quantity of the laundry load.
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the duration (Δt A to Δt B) and/or the sequence of the phases (A and B) can be changed as a function of the selected wash program.
8. Washing machine having a drive motor and a rotatable laundry drum for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 7 with a rotational speed control device for the drive motor of the laundry drum, wherein the rotational speed control device is configured to generate control signals for the drive motor such that the laundry drum can intermittently be driven with alternating directions of rotation at in each case different rotational speeds, that in one phase (A) of intensive laundry through-flow, the laundry drum in the one direction of rotation (+) is accelerated to a first rotational speed (n1) above the settling speed, wherein the nominal value of the first rotational speed (n1) is selected such that the items of laundry disposed on the drum shell are compressed and can fall back into the interior of the drum unhindered when the rotational speed is reduced, in other words, at the first rotational speed (n1) the peripheral speed of the laundry drum is greater than or equal to 3.7 m/s and in the other direction of rotation (1) the laundry drum is accelerated to a second rotational speed (n2), at which the peripheral speed of the laundry drum is less than or equal to 1.0 m/s, that in at least one further phase (B) of high mechanical washing action in both directions of rotation (+ and -) the laundry drum is accelerated to rotational speeds (n3) at which the peripheral speed of the laundry drum lies in the interval between 1.1 to 1.6 m/s and that these phases (A and B) within the washing and/or rinsing process follow one another at least once, characterised in that the rotational speed control device is configured to generate control signals such that immediately after the drum has come to rest, the laundry drum is accelerated from a first rotational speed (n1) to a second rotational speed (n2) in the other direction of rotation (-) and that the nominal value of the second rotational speed (n2) has a magnitude at which, during rotation of the laundry drum in the other direction of rotation, items of laundry dropping off from the outer surface fall into the interior drum area which is enlarged by compressing the items of laundry.
9. Washing machine according to claim 8 having a device for determining and evaluating the formation of foam within the outer tub and/or the developing unbalanced load, characterised in that control signals can be generated by the rotational speed control device for the drive motor and the drive motor can be switched off by such control signals if a defined foam and unbalanced load limit value is exceeded.
10. Washing machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that control signals can be generated by the rotational speed control device for the drive motor, by means of which the duration of the individual intervals (Δt1 to Δt6), the duration of the phases (Δt A to Δt B) and/or the sequence of the phases of the washing and/or rinsing process can be varied.
11. Washing machine according to one of claims 8 to 10 having a device for determining and evaluating the type and/or quantity of the laundry load introduced, characterised in that the formation of control signals for the drive motor by the rotational speed control device is dependent on the type and/or quantity of the laundry load to be treated.

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