EP1897987A1 - System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine - Google Patents

System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1897987A1
EP1897987A1 EP06120330A EP06120330A EP1897987A1 EP 1897987 A1 EP1897987 A1 EP 1897987A1 EP 06120330 A EP06120330 A EP 06120330A EP 06120330 A EP06120330 A EP 06120330A EP 1897987 A1 EP1897987 A1 EP 1897987A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
washing machine
control parameters
installation profile
installation
spin stage
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06120330A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabio Marchetto
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.)
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Original Assignee
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
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 Electrolux Home Products Corp NV filed Critical Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority to EP06120330A priority Critical patent/EP1897987A1/en
Priority to RU2009112580/12A priority patent/RU2443816C2/ru
Priority to PCT/EP2007/007402 priority patent/WO2008028566A1/en
Publication of EP1897987A1 publication Critical patent/EP1897987A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
    • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
    • D06F33/48—Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
    • 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
    • D06F2103/26—Imbalance; Noise level

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine.
  • the degree of vibration or walk of the machine on the supporting surface depends on a number of machine control parameters, the values of which characterize the spin stage and are established on the basis of a standard, typically compact, type of supporting surface.
  • the user should therefore be able to alter the spin stage operating parameters quickly and easily, according to the machine setup and/or support, to reduce vibration, walk and, hence, the noise level of the machine.
  • the present invention is substantially based on establishing a number of user-selectable washing machine installation profiles, each containing a number of predetermined control parameters characterizing the washing machine spin stage; and, during the spin stage, controlling the washing machine wash unit on the basis of the selected installation profile control parameters.
  • the present invention is based on enabling the user to reconfigure the washing machine spin stage control parameters by selecting an installation profile corresponding to the actual setup/support of the washing machine on a supporting base or surface.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a system enabling a user to configure the spin stage control parameters of a washing machine 2 as a function of the setup/support of washing machine 2 on a supporting base or surface.
  • Washing machine 2 of system 1 substantially comprises a wash unit 3 (shown schematically in Figure 1); an electronic unit 4 for controlling operation of wash unit 3 at the various operating stages in the wash cycle, particularly the spin stage; and a control device 5 by which the user commands electronic unit 4 to configure washing machine 2, as described in detail below, according to a given installation profile.
  • wash unit 3 comprises a wash chamber 6 housing a drum 7, which is mounted to rotate about a predetermined rotation axis, and into which the laundry is loaded; and a drive unit 8 connected mechanically to drum 7 and preferably, though not necessarily, defined by an electric motor which, under control of electronic unit 4, rotates drum 7. Wash unit 3 is known and therefore not described further.
  • Electronic unit 4 comprises a memory module 9 containing a number of washing machine installation profiles, each containing a number of spin stage control parameters of washing machine 2; and an electronic control module 10 which receives a user-selected installation profile from control device 5, and controls wash unit 3 at the spin stage as a function of the control parameters in the installation profile corresponding to the user-selected installation profile.
  • the installation profiles in memory module 9 may be associated with various user-selectable washing machine installation setups, and, in the example shown, may be associated, for example, with the following washing machine setups/supporting surfaces: washing machine installed on a rigid, compact surface, such as a tiled floor; and/or washing machine installed on a wooden surface on a predetermined floor, such as a first or second floor; and/or washing machine installed on a pedestal, in turn resting on a rigid, compact tiled surface; and/or washing machine installed on a pedestal, in turn resting on a wooden surface; and/or washing machine installed on a rigid, compact surface, such as a tiled floor, and supporting an electric household appliance, such as a drier; and/or washing machine resting on a wooden surface and supporting an electric household appliance, such as a drier.
  • the spin stage control parameters in each installation profile comprise a spin stage rotation speed of drum 7; a spin stage time; and spin activation strategy data related to off-balance of wash unit 3, and as a function of which control module 10 determines whether or not to activate the spin stage.
  • the data comprises a number of reference off-balance thresholds by which control module 10 determines whether or not the right conditions exist to activate the spin stage; and a number of values, each associated with an off-balance threshold and indicating a maximum number of tries or checks to be made by control module 10 for each off-balance threshold.
  • control module 10 checks the off-balance of wash unit 3 satisfies a given relationship with a predetermined off-balance threshold, and, if it does not, the check is repeated a number of times equal to the predetermined maximum number of tries. If these tries are also negative, control module 10 repeats the same checks for a higher reference off-balance threshold.
  • Control module 10 may be defined by a microprocessor, which is supplied by control device 5 with a control signal containing information relating to a user-selected installation profile; determines in memory module 9 the control parameters associated with the installation profile corresponding to the selected profile; and controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the control parameters determined.
  • Control device 5 may comprise a user control keyboard 5a, and preferably, though not necessarily, a display 5b showing a selection menu of the installation profiles in memory module 9.
  • Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the operations in the method implemented by system 1 when installing washing machine 2, and in which the user selects the installation profile associated with the installation configuration, i.e. the type of washing machine setup/supporting surface.
  • control unit 10 preferably displays on display 5b of control device 5 a selection menu of the installation profiles of washing machine 2 contained in memory module 9, and, using control keyboard 5a, the user selects the installation profile corresponding to the type of installation of washing machine 2 (block 100).
  • control device 5 has no display 5b
  • the installation profile can be selected by manually activating a profile identification code selected by operating a combination of keys on keyboard 5a or in other similar ways.
  • control module 10 searches memory module 9 to determine the installation profile and relative control parameters corresponding to the selected installation profile (block 110).
  • control unit 10 determines the spin speed and time values, and the spin activation strategy data, and preferably updates the previous settings, e.g. the predetermined settings of the washing machine, by substituting the new control parameters.
  • control module 10 controls wash unit 3 so that the control parameters of the wash unit conform with those of the selected installation profile (block 130). For example, if the spin speed of a user-programmed wash cycle is substantially lower than that of the installation profile, control module 10 controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the spin speed in the selected installation profile, i.e. overriding the wash cycle spin speed. In other words, once the control parameters of the user-selected installation profile are configured, control module 10 controls wash unit 3 during the wash cycles on the basis of the installation profile control parameters, and overrides any operating condition of the washing machine conflicting with them.
  • the installation profiles may be associated with respective washing machine vibration or vibration range values. More specifically, the control parameters in each installation profile may be so established that, when control module 10 controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the control parameters, vibration of the washing machine corresponds to the assigned installation profile value or to the assigned installation profile vibration range.
  • control keyboard 5a may therefore conveniently select a desired (e.g. low) vibration value, and control module 10, on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control wash unit 3 at the spin stage.
  • the installation profiles may be associated with respective washing machine walk values.
  • control parameters in each installation profile may be so established that, when the control module controls the wash unit on the basis of the control parameters, walk of the washing machine corresponds to the assigned installation profile value.
  • the user may therefore conveniently select a desired, e.g. low, walk value, and control module 10, on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control the spin stage.
  • a desired, e.g. low, walk value, and control module 10 on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control the spin stage.
  • the installation profiles may be associated with respective washing machine noise values.
  • the control parameters in each installation profile may be so established that, when control module 10 controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the control parameters, the noise level of the washing machine corresponds to the assigned installation profile noise value.
  • the user may therefore conveniently select a desired, e.g. low, noise value, and control module 10, on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control the spin stage.
  • a desired, e.g. low, noise value, and control module 10 on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control the spin stage.
  • each installation profile in memory module 9 may be unequivocally associated with one type of washing machine setup/supporting surface and/or one vibration value; and/or with one walk value and/or one washing machine noise value.
  • Control device 5 may therefore be configured to allow the user to select one of the following parameters : a given type of washing machine setup/supporting surface, or a vibration, or a given walk, or noise level.
  • control module 10 determines the installation profile on the basis of the user-selected parameter.
  • System 1 as described above has the major advantage of allowing the user to reconfigure the washing machine quickly and easily as a function of actual installation conditions, and so reduce the noise level, vibration, and walk of the machine.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
EP06120330A 2006-09-07 2006-09-07 System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine Withdrawn EP1897987A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06120330A EP1897987A1 (en) 2006-09-07 2006-09-07 System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine
RU2009112580/12A RU2443816C2 (ru) 2006-09-07 2007-08-23 Способ автоматической настройки параметров управления стиральной машиной и система для его осуществления
PCT/EP2007/007402 WO2008028566A1 (en) 2006-09-07 2007-08-23 System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06120330A EP1897987A1 (en) 2006-09-07 2006-09-07 System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1897987A1 true EP1897987A1 (en) 2008-03-12

Family

ID=37664768

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06120330A Withdrawn EP1897987A1 (en) 2006-09-07 2006-09-07 System and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1897987A1 (ru)
RU (1) RU2443816C2 (ru)
WO (1) WO2008028566A1 (ru)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8499391B2 (en) 2008-07-14 2013-08-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Laundry machine and method of controlling operation thereof
CN112575510A (zh) * 2020-11-28 2021-03-30 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 多单元衣物处理装置中选择衣物处理单元的方法和装置

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8468631B2 (en) 2010-09-28 2013-06-25 Whirlpool Corporation Method for controlling a laundry treating appliance based on a floor parameter
IT201700096881A1 (it) * 2017-08-29 2019-03-01 Candy Spa Macchina lavabiancheria e metodo di selezione di modalità di lavaggio per una macchina lavabiancheria

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2270090A (en) * 1992-08-27 1994-03-02 Gen Electric Electronic washer control including automatic balance,spin and brake operations
EP0792963A2 (en) * 1996-02-27 1997-09-03 SANYO ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. Spin extractor
WO2000031332A1 (en) * 1998-11-20 2000-06-02 Emerson Electric Co. Method and apparatus for detecting washing machine tub imbalance
US20030028270A1 (en) * 2001-08-06 2003-02-06 Peterson Gregory A. Appliance control system with auxiliary inputs
WO2005106096A1 (en) * 2004-05-03 2005-11-10 Lg Electronics, Inc. Drum type washing machine and controlling method thereof

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1291005B1 (it) * 1997-01-13 1998-12-14 Merloni Elettrodomestici Spa Sistema di controllo per un apparato elettrodomestico.

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2270090A (en) * 1992-08-27 1994-03-02 Gen Electric Electronic washer control including automatic balance,spin and brake operations
EP0792963A2 (en) * 1996-02-27 1997-09-03 SANYO ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. Spin extractor
WO2000031332A1 (en) * 1998-11-20 2000-06-02 Emerson Electric Co. Method and apparatus for detecting washing machine tub imbalance
US20030028270A1 (en) * 2001-08-06 2003-02-06 Peterson Gregory A. Appliance control system with auxiliary inputs
WO2005106096A1 (en) * 2004-05-03 2005-11-10 Lg Electronics, Inc. Drum type washing machine and controlling method thereof

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8499391B2 (en) 2008-07-14 2013-08-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Laundry machine and method of controlling operation thereof
CN112575510A (zh) * 2020-11-28 2021-03-30 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 多单元衣物处理装置中选择衣物处理单元的方法和装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2443816C2 (ru) 2012-02-27
RU2009112580A (ru) 2010-10-20
WO2008028566A1 (en) 2008-03-13

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