EP1760186A2 - Method and device for washing and dehydrating laundry - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves washing and hurling laundry in a rotating drum (12), and determining the weight of the laundry by determining the weight of the contents of the rotating drum. The weight of the contents in the rotating drum is determined in continuous or successive individual measurements at regular time intervals according to necessity. An independent claim is included for the washing and centrifugation machine for laundry.

Description

The invention relates to a method for washing and / or spinning laundry according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for washing and / or spinning laundry according to the preamble of claim 11.

Devices of the type mentioned here, which are usually used in commercial laundries, serve to either wash and spin laundry (washer-extractors) or to spin them (laundry centrifuges). With laundry is meant not only clothing and household linen, but also other items to be washed, such as floor mats.

Exhaustive demands are placed on washer extractors and laundry centrifuges. These can only absorb a certain amount or a certain weight of laundry. Accordingly, for washing, a certain level of liquid must be contained in the rotary-drivable drum serving both for washing and spinning. When spinning the liquid should be removed so far from the laundry that it only has a certain residual moisture. In addition, the spinning takes place at usually high speeds, to which the imbalance of the laden with the laundry and liquid bound therein (bound liquor) drum must not exceed certain limits. Finally, usually followed by a laundry centrifuge, but also one Washer-extractor at least one dryer, wherein the capacity of the respective dryer and also the cycle time thereof differ from the washer-extractor and the laundry centrifuge. In such cases, a division of the laundry leaving the washer-extractor or the laundry centrifuge usually takes place in at least two, preferably equally large, items (post-division). The above requirements meet known washer extractors and laundry centrifuges - if at all - only imperfectly.

The invention is based on the object of providing a method and a device for washing and / or spinning laundry, which operate in a simple manner economically while maintaining the machine-specific requirements.

A method for achieving this object comprises the measures of claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided that the weight of at least the content of the drum is determined. This is done according to the invention in a simple manner by weighing at least the drum including its contents. The weighing of the still dry laundry in the drum, the weight of the laundry with the liquid in the drum or the weight of the laundry with the liquid contained in it, the so-called bound liquor, can be determined by such a weighing alone. In this way, conclusions about the loading condition of the drum at the time of weighing or weight determination are possible. The loading condition is easily detectable due to the at least one weight measurement and allows different conclusions about an optimal loading of the drum and the washing and / or spinning of the laundry and possibly also the loading and unloading of the drum. The result of the weighing can be used primarily for several, possibly different purposes.

Preferably, the weight of the laundry and optionally the liquid in the drum is measured several times. Conveniently, the weight is determined continuously. Such a continuous determination of the weight is understood as a continuous, continuous weight determination or, alternatively, a weighting determination in successive, preferably regular, time intervals. It is thus ascertainable at the time of the respective weight measurement how large the actual weight of the laundry and possibly the liquid in the drum is. Thus, weight changes over time are easily detected. During the loading and unloading of the drum, but also during washing and / or spinning, the weight of the contents of the drum can be constantly determined. As a result, during and after the washing and / or skiving treatment of the laundry for the operation of the washer-extractor or laundry centrifuge required data determined. This data is particularly easy to determine because it only requires weight measurements of the drum with its contents.

In the preferred method, the weight of the substantially entire washer-extractor or laundry centrifuge is determined, preferably several times, in particular continuously. It is thus not only the weight of the drum with the entire content determined, but also the weight of at least the essential parts of the drum-supporting base frame. Since the weight of the drum and the base frame does not change because it is constant, due to the known weight of the drum and the base frame, namely at least the parts thereof included in the weight measurement, the weight or the mass can be subtracted from the measured total weight reliably determine the contents of the drum. Thus, in all operating states of the washer-extractor or the laundry centrifuge, the mass or the weight of the laundry and optionally the liquid in the drum can always be determined.

According to one embodiment of the method, the weight of only the laundry, in particular the still dry laundry, during loading of the drum and / or determined at the completion of the loading process of the drum. It can thus always determine the weight of currently located in the drum laundry. The loading process can be ended in time if the weight determination has revealed that the drum contains laundry with an intended weight. Since the weight measurement expediently takes place continuously (interrupted or at regular time intervals), the loading process can be stopped in a simple manner as soon as the weight determination has revealed that laundry with a prescribed or predetermined weight is contained in the drum.

By determining the weight of the contents of the drum can be determined in particular in a washer extractor also how much liquid is in addition to the laundry in the drum. Taking into account the given dimensions of the drum so conclusions about the liquid level (height of the liquid level) in the drum are possible. Above all, it is possible in this way to monitor the filling of the drum with the required amount of liquid. The addition of liquid to the laundry is then stopped when the determined weight of the total contents of the drum indicates a certain level of liquid allows, which is preferably matched to the previously determined concrete weight of the laundry in the drum or adapted thereto.

It is procedurally further provided that the residual moisture of the laundry is determined during the spinning of the laundry preferably by continuous (continuous or at regular intervals) taking place weight determinations. This is based on the knowledge that when spinning liquid is removed from the laundry and discharged. As a result, the weight of the contents of the drum, ie the laundry with the liquor bound therein, decreases with increasing spin duration. Since the weight of the drum with dry laundry has been determined during loading, it can be determined by comparing the result of the weight measurements of the drum loaded with dry laundry and still bound liquor contained spin laundry, how high the proportion of residual moisture in the laundry. It is expediently determined when a certain residual moisture of the laundry is reached, so that then the spin process can be terminated selectively, depending on findings that have been obtained from various weight measurements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, temporal or periodic weight changes, which are caused by dynamic forces on the rotationally driven drum, are determined by weight measurements taking place over a corresponding period of time. The dynamic weight changes are mainly determined by continuous uninterrupted and thus continuous weight measurements or by weight measurements that take place over a certain period of time at regular time intervals, ie interrupted by preferably equally long breaks. These dynamic or periodic weight changes provide information about an imbalance of the rotating driven drum. Since the drum is balanced, ie has no imbalance in the unloaded state, any changes in weight that have been detected indicate an imbalance when loading the drum with the laundry. Such unbalance usually occurs only when the laundry during the rotary drive of the drum is not - as normally usual - distributed substantially uniformly on the inner circumference of the drum.

If the imbalance of the drum with the laundry contained in the continuous weight measurement reaches a specific value, for example a predetermined limit value, it is provided that the speed of the drum is in particular for Do not increase the spin of the laundry. It then takes a spin of the laundry below the maximum speed. The spin process is then maintained over a longer period of time until the also determined by the novel process maximum residual moisture content of the laundry is reached.

It is also possible to determine an imbalance already by starting the rotating drive of the drum based on the weight measurements taking place over a certain period of time. This indicates that the laundry is clumped inside the drum and is not - as is usually the case - largely evenly distributed over the circumference of the drum. If an imbalance is already detected when the drum is started up, the drive is interrupted and the drum is decelerated, preferably to a standstill. As a rule, this leads to a division of the Wäscheklumpens. Thereafter, the drive is restarted until an initial unusually large imbalance is no longer detected.

Furthermore, it is provided to determine the weight of the laundry with the residual liquor still bound therein (residual moisture) before unloading the drum and also during unloading the weight of the still remaining in the drum remaining laundry with the still bound fleet continuously (continuously or in regular intervals). As a result, it is always known what proportion of the laundry is discharged with the remaining liquor still bound therein. By comparing the weight of the entire laundry with the remaining bound liquor in the drum with the weight of currently located during the unloading process still in the drum laundry with the remaining bound fleet, it is possible to unload the laundry by the line, with targeted items with make a certain laundry weight. For example, if the laundry is to be unloaded from the drum into two generally equal sized bins, when the weight determination indicates that the weight of the remaining contents in the drum is about half of the weight of the drum contents after completion of the brewing Spinning process corresponds. If there are several items of equal weight, the weights are quantized accordingly. It is also conceivable to form items of different sizes. The individual items are formed by interrupting the unloading process for a certain time after unloading an amount of laundry constituting a batch of a certain weight with the remaining liquor bound therein from the drum.

An apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 11. Accordingly, it is provided, the drum supporting the base frame assign at least one weight sensor. As a result, the device is weighed, so to speak. The at least one weight sensor is used for indirectly measuring the weight of the contents of the drum by determining the total weight of the drum with the contents, in particular laundry and / or liquid, as well as at least part of the weight of the base frame. Since the weight of the whole or part of the base frame taken into account in the measurement and also of the drum is known and does not change appreciably, the result of the weight measurement allows conclusions to be drawn as to the weight of the contents of the drum, ie the weight of the laundry contained therein and, if appropriate, liquid. to.

A weight picker is normally sufficient to reliably detect the weight of the laundry and / or liquid contained in the drum. A single weight sensor is also sufficient for successive weight measurements in order to determine periodic weight changes and / or dynamic forces, in particular an imbalance.

Preferably, the at least one weight sensor in the vicinity of a foot, with which the base frame is supported on the ground, arranged and / or associated with this foot. The at least one weight sensor is preferably arranged in the base frame, preferably above the foot, on which the weight sensor carrying the base frame and the drum is supported. This protects the weight sensor from the base frame.

The base frame with the drum are supported on the at least one weight sensor, which in turn is supported on the associated foot. The at least one weight sensor thus determines the weight of the base frame with the drum including the contents of the drum, ie the force with which the device is currently supported, ie at the time of the weight measurement, on its foot assigned to the weight sensor. The device is thus virtually weighed, if necessary several times or constantly.

In a preferred device, each foot of the base frame is associated with a weight picker. These are preferably the same weight sensor.

Due to the several weight sensors a particularly precise weight measurement is possible. In addition, the weight measurement can still perform when a Weight sensor fails. Above all, however, more reliable and accurate dynamic forces or periodically changing weights can be detected to determine, for example, the imbalance of the rotationally driven loaded drum. It is thus possible to reliably determine the weight of the laundry and possibly also of the liquid or residual moisture during the rotating drive of the drum, without the rotating drive of the drum influencing or distorting the weight determination.

As a weight sensor, all known types, such as pressure cells, piezo elements, strain gauges, spring carriage or the like are. Preferably, the weight sensors are designed as load cells. For example, shearbar load cells that use 6-wire technology with measuring amplifiers and a weighing range of up to 5 t are used.

Fig. 1

eine prinzipielle Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung zusammen mit einem nachfolgenden Entladeband und einem von diesem beladbaren Trockner,

Fig. 2

eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung der Fig. 1, und

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Einzelheit III aus der Fig. 2, im Bereich eines Fußes eines Grundrahmens der Vorrichtung.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of the device together with a subsequent unloading belt and a loadable by this dryer,

Fig. 2

a front view of the device of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3

an enlarged detail III of FIG. 2, in the region of a foot of a base frame of the device.

The figures show a device which is designed as a washer-extractor 10 for use in particular commercial laundries.

The washer-extractor 10 has a drum 12 which can be driven in rotation about a pivotable rotation axis 11 and which is permeable to liquid by at least partial perforations in its lateral surface. The drum 12 has at its free end face a single substantially full-surface opening 13.

The washer-extractor 10 further has a water-permeable drum 12 surrounding, waterproof drum housing 14. The drum housing 14 is fixed relative to the drum 12 is fixed, so in contrast to the drum 12 is not rotationally driven. Also, the drum housing 14 has at a free end face on a single almost full-surface opening 15. The opening 15 is that end face associated with the drum housing 14, to which also the opening 13 of the drum 12 points. The openings 13 and 15 are thereby adjacent to each other by corresponding with each other. In the washer-extractor 10 shown here, the opening 15 of the drum housing 14 by a pivotable door 16 is closed.

The drum housing 14 with the drum 12 rotatably mounted therein is pivotable about a pivot axis 17 extending transversely to the axis of rotation 11 of the drum 12. The pivot axis 17 extends horizontally, so that for loading and unloading the drum 12 can be pivoted with the drum housing 14 so that the openings 13 and 15 at least slightly inclined upwards (loading position) or obliquely downwards are directed (discharge position). To operate the washer-extractor 10, the drum 12 may be pivoted to the drum housing 14 in a washing position in which the axis of rotation 11 of the drum 12 is horizontal, inclined or even perpendicular.

The drum housing 14 is mounted with the pivot axis 17 on a base frame 18 of the washer-extractor 10. On an underside 21 of the base frame 18, four preferably identically formed feet 19 are arranged in the washer-extractor 10 shown. With the feet 19, the washer-extractor 10 is on the floor of a laundry.

Details of the storage of the drum housing 14 on the base frame 18 and the drives for pivoting the drum housing 14 relative to the base frame 18 and the rotating drive of the drum 12 are known per se, for example from DE 103 43 306 A1 in connection with a laundry centrifuge and the DE 10 2004 002 585 A1 in connection with a washer extractor. In this respect, reference is made to this.

The washer-extractor 10 shown here is provided with at least one weight sensor 20. As a result, the washer-extractor 10 is weighed. Due to this weighing, the weight of the current contents of the drum 12 can be determined. By several successive or continuous, continuous weight measurements at regular intervals are temporal changes in the weight of the dry or still wet laundry, as they occur, for example, during unloading detectable. But also dynamic forces that occur during the rotating drive of the drum 12, in particular the loaded drum 12, are ascertainable. The at least one weight receiver 20 is preferably associated with the base frame 18. Of the Weight sensor 20 is preferably arranged in the region of the underside 21 of the base frame 18, in this case between the base frame 18 and the respective foot 19.

In the illustrated embodiment, four weight 20 are provided. These are the same weight pickups 20. The weight pickups 20 are installed in a lower region of the base frame 20 in such a way that in each case a weight pickup 20 is supported on one of the four feet 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3). It is apparent from the figures that the weight 20 are arranged within the contour lines of the base frame 18, in the vicinity of the underside 21 of the base frame 18. As a result, the weight sensor 20 are particularly protected during transport of the washer-extractor 10 in the interior of the In addition, it is thus possible to assign the weight sensors 20 to the feet 19 by supporting each of the four weight sensors 20 on one of the four feet 19 (FIG. 3). The firmly in the lower part of the base frame 18 connected weight 20 are so from almost the entire weight of the washer-extractor 10, namely the base frame 18, the drum housing 14 and the drum 12 with its contents acted upon.

It is preferably provided that the panel and the at least one control cabinet are separated from the base frame 18. As a result, interference that could affect the result of the measurement of the weight 20, avoided, as well as flexible media feeds.

In the washer-extractor 10 shown here, each weight picker 20 is configured as a shearbar load cell. Depending on the size of the washer-extractor 10, the shear rod load cell has a corresponding measuring range. As a rule, a shearbar load cell that can determine weights of up to 5 t is sufficient. Each of the shearbar load cells is preferably designed according to the 6-conductor technique and provided with a measuring amplifier. However, it is also conceivable to provide a measuring amplifier for all four weight pickups 20, namely shearbar load cells. The measuring amplifier (s) is followed by a conventional measuring, evaluation and display electronics. Conveniently, a computer is provided which processes the measurement signals of the weight 20, converts and optionally also stores. The latter is particularly useful if, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the weight sensors 20 provide successive measurement signals, in gap-free intervals or with a time interval, in the latter case expediently, the pauses between successive measurements are the same.

The shearbar load cells are fixedly connected to the base frame 18 at one end. In the illustrated embodiment, about one half of each shearbar load cell by a plurality of screws 22 with a crossbar 23 which is fixedly connected to the base frame 18, bolted. The thus releasable connection of the shearbar load cell to the base frame 18 is such that the elongated shear rod is directed horizontally in the base frame 18, wherein a second half of the elongate shear rod load cell with respect to the horizontal cross member 23 of the base frame 18 protrudes freely cantilevered (Fig. 3). The underside of the free relative to the traverse 23 of the base frame 18 protruding part of the shearbar load cell is located with an outer end portion on the respective foot 19. For this purpose, each foot 19 has a threaded rod 24 or a screw. The threaded rod 24 is screwed into the foot 19 and brought with an upper free end 25 in contact with the cantilevered end of the shearbar load cell (weight 20). Optionally, the end 25 of the threaded rod 24 may be secured in a corresponding recess of the shearbar load cell, for example by tightening. The threaded rod 24 is for the purpose of horizontal alignment of the washer-extractor 10 more or less screwed into the base 19, so that the free end 25 of the threaded rod 24 has a corresponding distance from the top of the foot 19.

From Fig. 1 it is apparent that the washer-extractor 10 is associated with a discharge belt 26 on the discharge side. This is in the simplest case, a conveyor belt. Opposite sides of the upper strand 27 of the unloading belt 26 are preferably associated with fixed guide walls 28, whereby the unloading belt 26 is formed like a channel for lateral guidance of the further transported on the unloading belt 26 laundry. The unloading belt 26 shown here rises slightly in the conveying direction 29. The unloading belt 26 can also run horizontally or slightly inclined. The end 30 of the unloading belt 26 is associated with a dryer 31. In this way, the laundry from the washer-extractor 10 is transported via the unloading belt 26 into the dryer 31 for loading the dryer 31 with the laundry coming from the washer-extractor 10.

• Die Gewichtsaufnehmer 20 ermitteln fortlaufend, und zwar entweder in einer lückenlosen Aufeinanderfolge oder in regelmäßigen mit bestimmten, vorzugsweise gleichlangen, Pausen aufeinanderfolgenden Zeitabständen das Gewicht desjenigen Teils der Waschschleudermaschine 10, der auf den Füßen 19 und damit auf den zwischen der Waschschleudermaschine 10 und den Füßen 19 angeordneten Gewichtsaufnehmern 20 ruht. Es werden dabei ständig oder von Zeit zu Zeit die Trommel 12 mit ihrem Inhalt, des Trommelgehäuse 14, der Grundrahmen 18 und die mit den genannten Komponenten der Waschschleudermaschine 10 verbundenen Teile, insbesondere Antriebe, gewogen. Da dieses Gewicht abgesehen von dynamischen Kräften stets konstant ist, kann das Gewicht des Inhalts der Trommel 12 durch Subtraktion vom Leergewicht der auf dem Gewichtsaufnehmer 20 ruhenden Komponenten der Waschschleudermaschine 10 ermittelt werden.

The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the above-described washer-extractor 10:

• The weight sensors 20 continuously determine, either in a continuous succession or at regular intervals of time, preferably the same length, the weight of that part of the washer-extractor 10 resting on the feet 19 and thus between the washer-extractor 10 and the feet 19 arranged weight 20 rests. There are constantly or from time to time the drum 12 with its contents, the drum housing 14, the base frame 18 and the parts connected to said components of the washer-extractor 10 parts, in particular drives, weighed. Since this weight is always constant except for dynamic forces, the weight of the contents of the drum 12 can be determined by subtracting the curb weight of the components of the washer-extractor 10 resting on the weight receiver 20.

The weight of the contents of the drum 12 can be determined by the weight sensor 20 even when the drive of the drum 12 is rotating, if added by the drive of the loaded drum 12 possibly resulting dynamic forces. Because the dynamic forces are periodic in nature and the weight measurements are continuous over time, the dynamic forces alternately increase and decrease the weight of the washer-extractor 10 determined by the weight pickups 20, including the contents of the drum 12 at the time of weight determination. An average of the periodically fluctuating weight readings results in the weight of the contents of the drum 12 without regard to dynamic force components. The magnitude of the deviations of the weight forces detected by the weight pickups 20 from the mean value makes it possible to draw conclusions about the dynamic forces, in particular unbalances in the rotating drive of the loaded drum 12. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to determine the weight forces of the contents of the drum 12 both when the drum 12 is stationary and rotating. In addition, the dynamic forces caused by any imbalances in the rotating drive of the loaded rotating drum 12 can be determined by means of the weight sensor 20 via the evaluation electronics associated therewith.

According to the inventive method, first the weight of the drum 12 is determined during loading. In this way, it can be constantly ascertained how high the weight of the dry laundry currently in the drum 12 is. Specifically, after completion of the loading of the total weight of the post, the dry laundry in the drum 12 is detected. Measurement of weight of dry laundry at Loading the drum 12 can also be used to complete the loading process when the drum 12 is loaded with the designated amount of dry laundry. It is in the evaluation electronics, the target weight or maximum weight of the dry laundry, which is to load the washer-extractor 10 for each work cycle, constantly monitored. As soon as it is determined during the continuous weight measurement that the drum 12 with the dry laundry contained therein has reached the setpoint or maximum weight, the loading process is automatically ended.

After loading the drum 12 with the dry laundry, liquid, in particular washing water and washing aids, is introduced into the drum 12. Here, too, a weight measurement is continuously carried out, as a result of which the weight of the liquid filled into the drum 12 (water and possibly auxiliary washing agent) is constantly determined. Again, the target weight of the liquid is entered into the evaluation electronics, in turn, which is required for the amount of laundry in the drum 12. Once the target weight of the liquid is reached, the supply of liquid into the drum 12 is stopped. Due to the weight measurement it is ensured that the liquid in the drum 12 has a sufficient level for washing the amount of laundry present therein. In this way, only inaccurately working level measurements within the drum 12 can be omitted.

Furthermore, it is provided according to the method of the invention, the weight of the resting on the weight pickups 20 parts of the washer-extractor 10 and thus determine the weight of the laundry and liquid contained in the drum 12 each by weighing in washing following the washing of the laundry. The determined weight will decrease with increasing spin duration, because by spinning more and more liquid, namely bound liquor, is removed. In the evaluation electronics, a target weight is entered, which corresponds to the weight of the initially entered into the drum 12 dry laundry plus a residual moisture or bound residual liquor that may or may not be included in the laundry at the end of the spin process. Once the predetermined target weight is reached, in which the laundry only has the intended residual moisture, is stopped by the evaluation electronics associated with or corresponding thereto control the spinning process. The laundry can then be unloaded from the washer-extractor 10.

In many cases, the dryer 31 following the washer-extractor only takes up part of the laundry load in the washer-extractor 10. The following is about it assumed that the dryer 31 receives only half of the laundry costs of the washer-extractor 10. However, the time taken for the dryer 31 to dry the laundry, namely to at least largely remove the residual moisture from the laundry, is less than the cycle time of the washer-extractor 10, ie the time it takes to wash and spin the laundry , In the following it is assumed that the cycle time of the dryer 31 corresponds to only half the cycle time of the washer-extractor 10.

Due to different absorption capacities and cycle times of the washer-extractor 10 and the dryer 31, it is customary to make a so-called post division. For this purpose, the item of laundry in the washer-extractor 10 is divided during unloading thereof. In the case assumed here that the holding capacity of the dryer 31 is half that of the washer-extractor 10, the item leaving the washer-extractor 10 is divided into two equally-sized items, namely item halves. In the event that the dryer 31 can accommodate only half the amount of laundry as the washer-extractor 10, so there is a uniform division of duties instead. This post-division is supported by the constant determination of the weight of the resting on the weight pickups 20 essential parts of the washer-extractor 10 including a certain residual moisture having laundry in the drum 12. Due to the known weight of resting on the weight pickups 20 components of the washer-extractor 10 is the weight the entire in the drum 12 located post of a residual moisture having laundry known.

In a division of the post into two approximately equally large or equally heavy sub items the washer extractor 10 is gradually discharged, the discharging a residual moisture having laundry reaches the unloading belt 26. By the continuous weight measurement can be determined when half the amount of still residual moisture laundry has left the drum 12 of the washer-extractor 10. It is then on the unloading belt 26 a sub-item, which corresponds to about half the weight of the item of laundry in the washer-extractor 10. The unloading process of the washer-extractor 10 is now interrupted for a short time. During this time, the first sub-item is transported by the unloading belt 26 into the dryer 31 and thus the dryer 31 loaded or the sub-item from the unloading belt 26 only slightly further transported towards the dryer 31. Now, the drying process of the first part in the dryer 31 begin. It is then the remaining still a residual moisture having laundry from the drum 12 of the washer extractor 10 discharged. This remaining laundry corresponds to the second sub-item with about the same weight of the first sub-item. This sub-item remains on the unloading belt 26 until the first sub-item has dried. Thereafter, the second sub-item is transported by the unloading belt 26 to or into the dryer 31 for loading the dryer 31 with the second sub-item.

The dynamic forces determined by the method according to the invention, which originate in particular from the rotationally driven loaded drum 12, can generally only be caused by an imbalance which arises due to an uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum 12. As a result, the signals generated by the weight sensors 20 with periodically varying forces allow conclusions to be drawn about an imbalance of the rotationally driven, loaded drum 12.

The measurement of the dynamic forces generated by the loaded drum 12 takes place from the beginning of the rotary drive of the drum 12 and preferably also during the entire rotating drive of the same. This measurement can be terminated when the drum 12 has reached a constant final speed, it is also conceivable to carry out the measurement during the entire rotating drive of the drum 12 continuously, albeit at preferably regular time intervals, ie with pauses between individual measurements.

If it is already established when the drum 12 is started up, that is to say when it is still driving at a low speed, that dynamic forces exceeding a specific limit value prevail, this indicates an imbalance lying above a permissible value. If it is found that the initial imbalance of the drum 12, for example, at the time of a fixed low initial speed, is higher than the predetermined maximum imbalance, this indicates that the laundry in the drum 12 has not uniformly distributed, namely at least one Laundry heap or lump has formed. The drive of the drum 12 is then interrupted and preferably the drum 12 braked to a stop. As a result, the laundry falls inside the drum 12 together again. It is then the drive of the drum 12 is restarted, in which case it can be assumed that no significant imbalance occurs more because the repeated start of the rotating drive of the drum 12, the at least one laundry lump has dissolved and thus a substantially uniform distribution the laundry is done on the circumference of the shell of the drum 12.

Even if the laundry is distributed during the acceleration of the drum 12 on the circumference of the shell, this will not be so uniform in a rule that no imbalance of the drum 12 is formed, especially in the higher speed range of the drum 12. Therefore, in further operation, especially when accelerating the drum 12 to the maximum speed, the measurement of dynamic forces by weight determination, so the determination of dynamic weight forces continued. In this way it can be determined whether and, if so, when the drum 12 reaches a fixed limit value of the imbalance with increasing speed. As soon as this happens, the drum 12 is not further accelerated and thereby the spin cycle of the laundry is carried out at the highest possible speed at which a predetermined imbalance is not exceeded. It is possible with this method to always drive the drum 12 at the highest possible speed in order to make the drainage as quickly as possible in the required or predetermined circumference.

The washer-extractor 10 can be operated with all of the methods described above according to the invention or make use of all the described process steps, for which always only weight determinations are required and, above all, the weight determinations serve several purposes. However, it is also conceivable to realize in a washer-extractor 10 only some of the above-described method or method steps according to the invention.

The invention is also suitable for laundry centrifuges, which are used only for dewatering, namely spinning, previously washed in a washing machine laundry. Also, such a laundry centrifuge weight sensors are assigned in the bottom of the base frame, which are supported on the feet of the laundry centrifuge. The weight sensors can be designed and mounted in the same way as FIGS. 2 and 3 in connection with the previously described washer-extractor 10, especially since a laundry centrifuge basically corresponds in design to the washer-extractor 10. However, since only a large part of the bound liquor on the laundry is removed in a laundry centrifuge, the weight of the laundry with the bound liquor is determined when the laundry centrifuge is loaded.

Since liquid is not added to laundry centrifuges, it does not take the level measurement previously described in connection with the washer-extractor 10 by determining the weight of the added liquid.

All other methods and method steps described in connection with the washer-extractor 10 are carried out in the same or at least analogous manner also in the spin dryer. In that regard, reference is made to the methods previously described in connection with the washer-extractor 10, which also apply to the laundry centrifuge.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Washer extractor

11

axis of rotation

12

drum

13

opening

14

drum housing

15

opening

16

door

17

swivel axis

18

base frame

19

foot

20

weight sensor

21

bottom

22

screw

23

traverse

24

threaded rod

25

The End

26

unloading

27

obertrum

28

guide wall

29

conveying direction

30

The End

31

dryer

Claims (15)

Method for washing and / or spinning laundry, wherein the laundry is washed in a drum (12) which can be driven in rotation and is then spun or only spun, characterized in that the weight of at least the content of the drum (12) is determined. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight of at least the laundry and optionally the liquid, preferably the entire laundry and optionally the entire liquid in the drum (12) is determined by weighing, in particular the weight several times, preferably continuously, in particular periodic intervals with preferably equal pauses between individual measurements or continuously successively without breaks between individual measurements is determined. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the whole or at least almost the entire washer-extracting machine (10) for washing and spinning the laundry or the whole or almost entire laundry centrifuge for spinning the laundry with the laundry contained in the drum (12) and, if appropriate, liquid is weighed in particular continuously or multiply, preferably in the region of at least one foot (19) of the washer-extractor (10) or the laundry centrifuge. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight of only the laundry during loading of the drum (12) and / or completion of the loading of the drum (12) is determined, preferably the loading of the drum (12) with the intended amount is checked or monitored on laundry by determining the weight of the laundry currently in the drum (12). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the required quantity of liquid is determined by measuring the weight of the liquid and the laundry in the drum (12), in particular such that it is determined by continuous weight measurements when in relation to the weight of the ( dry) laundry in the drum (12) a sufficient amount, in particular a sufficient weight, of liquid in the drum (12) is present. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remaining moisture of the laundry is determined during the spinning of the laundry by continuously determining the weight of the laundry and the liquid still bound therein, in particular the spinning is terminated upon reaching a certain predetermined residual moisture content of the laundry. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that dynamic forces by periodic weight change, in particular change in weight over time, with rotating driven, loaded drum (12) preferably during spin of the laundry by continuous, in particular temporally successive, weight measurements over at least a certain period be determined. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that by determining dynamic forces, in particular periodic changes in weight over time, an imbalance of the loaded drum (12) is determined in its rotating drive, in particular it is determined when the unbalance has reached a certain limit, preferably Based on the determined unbalance of the loaded drum (12), the speed of the drum (12) influenced, in particular limited, is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive is interrupted on the basis of a determined when starting the rotating drive of the loaded drum (12) imbalance, when the determined imbalance of the loaded drum (12) reaches a predetermined limit. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before unloading the drum (12), the weight of the laundry is determined with the remaining liquor still bound therein and during unloading the weight of the still remaining in the drum (12) remaining laundry is determined with the remaining bound fleet, preferably continuously or at regular intervals and / or when unloading the drum (12) determined weight of remaining in the drum (12) remaining laundry with the remaining bound fleet is used to partial items with To form a certain amount of laundry by after unloading a certain amount nor a residual bound fleet having laundry the discharge process is interrupted for a certain period of time. Apparatus for washing and / or spinning laundry, in particular washer-extractor (10) or laundry centrifuge, with a drum (12) mounted on a base frame (18) and rotatable on the floor, characterized in that at least one base frame (18) Weight sensor (20) is assigned. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the at least one weight receiver (20) in the vicinity of a foot (19), with which the base frame (18) is supported on the ground, is arranged, wherein preferably the base frame (18) the drum (12) on or on the at least one weight sensor (20) is supported. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weight receiver (20) is arranged in the base frame (18), preferably in such a way that the weight receiver (20) carrying the base frame (18) with the drum (12) rests on the weight receiver respective foot (19) is supported. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each foot (19) of the base frame (18) is associated with a weight sensor (20). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each weight sensor (20) operates capacitively, inductively, piezoelectrically or according to the strain gauge principle and / or the or each weight sensor (20) as a load cell, preferably a shear rod load cell, a load cell or the like is formed.

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