EP2470706B1 - Steuerverfahren für eine waschmaschine - Google Patents

Steuerverfahren für eine waschmaschine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2470706B1
EP2470706B1 EP10812326.6A EP10812326A EP2470706B1 EP 2470706 B1 EP2470706 B1 EP 2470706B1 EP 10812326 A EP10812326 A EP 10812326A EP 2470706 B1 EP2470706 B1 EP 2470706B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
unbalance
laundry
vibration
generated
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.)
Active
Application number
EP10812326.6A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2470706A4 (de
EP2470706A1 (de
Inventor
Jae Hyuk Jang
Bon Kwon Koo
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.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
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
Priority claimed from KR1020090079912A external-priority patent/KR101741549B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020090079923A external-priority patent/KR20110022367A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020090080126A external-priority patent/KR20110022495A/ko
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Publication of EP2470706A1 publication Critical patent/EP2470706A1/de
Publication of EP2470706A4 publication Critical patent/EP2470706A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2470706B1 publication Critical patent/EP2470706B1/de
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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
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
    • D06F37/22—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
    • 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
    • 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
    • D06F2105/46—Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
    • D06F2105/48—Drum speed
    • 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
    • D06F2105/52—Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
    • 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
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/304—Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a control method of a laundry machine.
  • a laundry machine may include washing, rinsing and spinning cycles.
  • the spinning cycle includes a rotating step of rotating a drum provided in such a laundry machine at the highest RPM. Because of the step, the spinning cycle would generate noise and vibration quite a lot, which is required to be solved in the art the prevent invention pertains to.
  • EP 2103726 A1 describes a drum type washing machine that includes a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of the washtub. After increasing the drum rotation speed to a reference drum rotation speed that is larger than a primary resonant speed and a secondary resonant speed, a controller determines that the laundry is distributed in an excessive front unbalance when an amplitude of a vibration along the leftward and rightward direction is equal to or larger than a threshold. Similarly, the controller determines that the laundry is distributed in an excessive rear unbalance when the amplitude of a vibration along the frontward and rearward direction is equal to or larger than a threshold. If the excessive unbalance is detected, the drum is stopped, and an untangling process is again executed.
  • JP 2006 311884 A describes a method of detecting the position of imbalance in a drum type washing machine.
  • the difference between the phase angles of components of vibration in directions of at least two axes when the phase angles of the respective components of vibration are the maximum is calculated based on output signals of the components of vibration in at least two directions from the vibration detecting means at a prescribed speed of rotation.
  • EP 1167609 A1 relates to a washing machine with accelerometers or optical means which are directed along a direction that is sensitive to the effect of a load which is dynamically unbalanced.
  • US 6023854 A relates to a spin extractor for extracting liquid from wet laundry by rotating a drum with the laundry contained therein at high speed about a horizontal axis.
  • the present invention is directed to a control method of a laundry machine.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a laundry machine which can solve the above problem.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a laundry machine comprising re-performing a laundry distributing step in case unbalance generated in a front portion of a drum is sensed in at least one step of an accelerating step and a unbalance sensing step.
  • the sensing of the vibration is implemented at higher a RPM of the drum than a transient region.
  • the sensing of the vibration is implemented in a region of the RPM from 350 to 400 RPM.
  • the method comprises re-performing a laundry distributing step based on the sensed unbalance amount and the unbalance position inside the drum.
  • the laundry machine comprises a driving unit comprising a shaft connected to a drum, a bearing housing to rotatably support the shaft, and a motor to rotate the shaft, and a suspension assembly is connected to the driving unit.
  • the laundry machine comprises a rear gasket for sealing to prevent washing water from leaking from a space between a driving unit and a tub, and enabling the driving unit movable relative to the tub.
  • a tub is supported rigidly more than a drum being supported by a suspension assembly.
  • the present invention has following advantageous effects.
  • noise and vibration generated in the laundry machine may be reduced and the time of the spinning cycle may be reduced simultaneously.
  • the tub may be fixedly supported to the cabinet or it may be supplied to the cabinet by a flexible supporting structure such as a suspension unit which will be described later. Also, the supporting of the tub may be between the supporting of the suspension unit and the completely fixed supporting.
  • the tub may be flexibly supported by the suspension unit which will be described later or it may be complete-fixedly supported to be movable more rigidly.
  • the cabinet may not be provided unlike embodiments which will be described later.
  • a predetermined space in which the built-in type laundry machine will be installed may be formed by a wall structure and the like, instead of the cabinet.
  • the built-in type laundry machine may not include a cabinet configured to define an exterior appearance thereof independently.
  • a tub 12 provided in the laundry machine is fixedly supported to a cabinet.
  • the tub 12 includes a tub front 100 configured to define a front part of the tub and a tub rear 120 configured to define a rear part of the tub.
  • the tub front 100 and the tub rear 120 are assembled to each other by screws, to form a predetermined space big enough to accommodate the drum.
  • the tub rear 120 has an opening formed in a rear portion thereof and an inner circumference of the rear portion composing the tub rear 120 is connected with an outer circumference of a rear gasket 250.
  • the tub back 130 has a through-hole formed in a center thereof to pass a shaft to pass there through.
  • the rear gasket 250 is made of a flexible material not to transmit the vibration of the tub back 130 to the tub rear 120.
  • the tub rear 120 has a rear surface 128 and the rear surface 128, the tub back 130 and the rear gasket 250 may define a rear wall of the tub.
  • the rear gasket 250 is connectedly sealed with the tub back 130 and the tub rear 120, such that the wash water held in the tub may not leak.
  • the tub back 130 is vibrated together with the drum during the rotation of the drum. At this time, the tub back 130 is distant from the tub rear 120 enough not to interfere with the tub rear. Since the rear gasket 250 is made of the flexible material, the tub back 130 is allowed to relative-move, without interference of the tub rear 120.
  • the rear gasket 250 may include a corrugated portion 252 extendible to a predetermined length to allow the relative-motion of the tub back 130.
  • the drum 32 includes a drum front 300, a drum center and a drum back 340. Balancers 310 and 330 may be installed in front and rear parts of the drum, respectively.
  • the drum back 340 is connected with a spider 350 and the spider 350 is connected with the shaft 351.
  • the drum 32 is rotated in the tub 12 by a torque transmitted via the shaft 351.
  • the shaft 351 is directly connected with a motor 170, passing through the tub back 130.
  • a rotor 174 composing the motor 170 is directly connected with the shaft 351.
  • a bearing housing 400 is secured to a rear portion of the tub back 130 and the bearing housing 400 rotatably supports the shaft, located between the motor 170 and the tub back 130.
  • a stator 172 composing the motor 170 is secured to the bearing housing 400 and the rotor 174 is located surrounding the stator 172. As mentioned above, the rotor 174 is directly connected with the shaft 351.
  • the motor 170 is an outer rotor type motor and it is directly connected with the shaft 351.
  • the bearing housing 400 is supported via a suspension unit with respect to a cabinet base 600.
  • the suspension unit 180 includes three perpendicular supporters and two oblique supporters configured to support the bearing housing 400 obliquely with respect to a forward and rearward direction.
  • the suspension unit 180 may includes a first cylinder spring 520, a second cylinder spring 510, a third cylinder spring 500, a first cylinder damper 540 and a second cylinder damper 530.
  • the first cylinder spring 520 is connected between a first suspension bracket 450 and the cabinet base 600.
  • the second cylinder spring 510 is connected between a suspension bracket 440 and the cabinet base 600.
  • the third cylinder spring 500 is directly connected between the bearing housing 400 and the cabinet base 600.
  • the first cylinder damper 540 is inclinedly installed between the first suspension bracket 450 and a rear portion of the cabinet base.
  • the second cylinder damper 530 is inclinedly installed between the second suspension bracket 440 and a rear portion of the cabinet base 600.
  • the cylinder springs 520, 510 and 500 of the suspension unit 180 may be elastically connected to the cabinet base 600 enough to allow a forward/rearward and rightward/ leftward movement of the drum, not connected to the cabinet base 600 fixedly. That is, they are elastically supported by the base 600 to allow the drum to be rotated to a predetermined angle in forward/rearward and rightward/leftward directions with respect to the connected portion.
  • the perpendicular ones of the suspension unit may be configured to suspend the vibration of the drum elastically and the oblique ones may be configured to dampen the vibration. That is, in a vibration system including a spring and damping means, the perpendicular ones are employed as spring and the oblique ones are employed as damping means.
  • the tub front 100 and the tub rear 120 are fixedly secured to the cabinet 110 and the vibration of the drum 32 is suspendedly supported by the suspension unit 180.
  • the supporting structure of the tub 12 and the drum 32 may be called 'separated' substantially, such that the tub 12 may not be vibrated even when the drum 32 is vibrated.
  • the bearing housing 400 and the suspension brackets may be connected with each other by first and second weights 431 and 430.
  • the laundry machine may include the balancer 310 and 330 configured to prevent the noise and vibration generated by the unbalanced rotation of the drum 32.
  • a front balancer 310 is mounted to a front portion of the drum and a rear balancer 320 is mounted to a rear portion of the drum.
  • a front mounting groove (not shown) is recessed rearward from the front portion of the drum to mount the front balancer 310 therein and a rear mounting groove (not shown) is recessed forward from the rear portion of the drum to mount the rear balancer 320 therein.
  • the front balancer 310 is identical to the rear balancer 320. However, it is not necessary to mount the identical balancers to the front and rear portions of the drum, respectively.
  • the balancers are mounted to the drum 30 and 32 to reduce the unbalance. Because of that, the balancer may have a movable gravity center.
  • the balancer may include movable bodies having a predetermined weight located therein and a passage the movable bodies move along.
  • the balancers may be ball balancers
  • the balancer 70, 310 and 330 may include balls 72, 312 and 332 having a predetermined weight located therein and a passage the ball moves along.
  • the balancers 310 and 320 have predetermined inner spaces to form a passage of the balls 312 and 332.
  • the number of the balls located in the inner spaces and the radii of the balls may be determined in consideration of the unbalance amount to reduce and the vibration property of the laundry machine.
  • oil (not shown) is filled in the inner spaces.
  • the amount and the viscosity of the filled oil may affect the movement of the balls. Because of that, the amount and viscosity of the oil may be determined for the balls of the balancer to have the required movement. Also, the vibration property of the laundry machine may be put into the consideration when determining that.
  • the balls are rotated by the friction generated during the rotation of the drum 30 and 32 and they are not kept unmovable in the drum when the drum is rotated. Because of that, the balls are rotated at a different speed from the rotation speed of the drum.
  • the laundry which generates the unbalance may be rotated at the almost same speed as the speed of the drum because of the friction generated by the close contact with an inner circumferential surface of the drum and the lifters provided in the inner circumferential surface.
  • the rotation speed of the laundry is different from that of the balls.
  • the rotation speed of the laundry is higher than that of the balls during an initial rotation stage in which the drum is rotated at a relatively low speed, specifically, a rotation angle speed of the laundry is higher.
  • a phase difference between the balls and the laundry which is a phase difference with respect to a rotation center of the drum, may changes continuously.
  • the balls when the rotation speed of the drum is getting higher, the balls may be in close contact with an outer circumferential surface of the passage by the centrifugal force. At the same time, the balls are aligned at a predetermined position having approximately 90° to 180° of the phase difference with respect to the laundry. If the rotation speed of the drum is a predetermined value or more, the centrifugal force is getting larger and the friction generated between the outer circumferential surface and the balls is a predetermined value or more and the balls may be rotated at the same speed as the drum. at this time, the balls are rotated at the same speed as the drum, with maintaining the position having the 90° to 180°, preferably, approximately 180° of the phase difference with respect to the laundry.
  • the rotation of the balls at the predetermined positions as mentioned above may be expressed as 'unbalance corresponding position' or 'balancing'.
  • the ball located in the balancer 70, 310 and 330 may move to an unbalance corresponding position to reduce the unbalance.
  • the laundry machine includes washing, rinsing and spinning cycles and the control method according to the present invention which is be applicable to the spinning cycle will be described in reference to corresponding drawings.
  • FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating RPM change of the drum as the time passes according to the control method of the spinning cycle. According to FIG. 3 , a horizontal axis is 'time' and a vertical axis is 'rotation speed' of the drum 30 and 32 which is change of RPM.
  • the spinning cycle control method includes a laundry distributing step (S100) and a spinning step (S200).
  • the laundry distributing step (S100) distributes the laundry uniformly, as rotating the drum at a relatively low speed.
  • the spinning cycle (S200) rotates the drum at a relatively high speed to remove moisture contained in the laundry.
  • the laundry distributing step and spinning step are named with respect to main functions thereof.
  • the functions of the steps may not be limited to the names.
  • the laundry distributing step may remove the moisture of the laundry by using the rotation of the drum, as well as the laundry distributing.
  • the laundry distributing step (S100) composing the control method according to the present invention may include a wet laundry sensing step (S110), a laundry disentangling step (S130) and an unbalance sensing step (S150).
  • the spinning step (S200) may include a transient region passing step (S210) and an accelerating step (S230). As follows, each one of the above steps will be described.
  • a control part senses the amount of the laundry, that is, the amount of the wet laundry located in the drum 30 and 32, when the spinning cycle is put into operation (S110).
  • the reason why the amount of the wet laundry is that the amount of the dry laundry measured in an initial stage of the washing cycle is different from the amount of the wet laundry containing the moisture.
  • the sensed amount of the wet laundry may be used as an element configured to determine an allowable condition of the drum accelerating or to determine to re-implement the laundry distributing step after decreasing the speed of the drum 30 and 32 based on an unbalance condition in the transient region passing step (S210).
  • the amount of the wet laundry located in the drum 30 and 32 is measured in case the drum is rotated at a decreased speed after rotated at a constant speed of approximately 100 to 110 RPM reached by the acceleration for a predetermined time period. If the rotation speed of the drum is decreased, rheostatic braking is used. Specifically, the amount of the wet laundry is measured by using the amount of acceleration period rotation in accelerating the motor 40 and 170 configured to rotate the drum 30 and 32, the amount of the acceleration period rotation in decreasing the speed of the motor 40 and 170, and an applied DC voltage.
  • control part may implement the laundry disentangling step (S130) configured to distribute the laundry inside the drum uniformly.
  • the laundry disentangling step distributes the laundry located in the drum 30 and 32 uniformly to prevent the laundry from concentrated on a specific region inside the drum, which might increase the unbalance. If the unbalance is increased, noise and vibration will be increased in case the RPM of the drum is heightened.
  • the laundry disentangling step accelerates the drum in a predetermined single direction with a predetermined oblique and it is implemented until the RPM reaches a rotation speed of the unbalance sensing step which will be described later.
  • control part senses the unbalance of the drum (S150).
  • the control part senses the unbalance of the drum and it determines whether the drum is accelerated.
  • the unbalance sensing uses difference of the accelerated speeds during the rotation of the drum 30 and 32. That is, there is difference of the accelerated speeds when the drum is rotated downward along the gravity and when it is rotated upward reversely according to the level of the generated unbalance.
  • the control part measures the difference of the accelerated speeds by using a speed sensor, for example, a hall sensor provided in the motor 40 and 170 to sense the amount of the unbalance.
  • a speed sensor for example, a hall sensor provided in the motor 40 and 170 to sense the amount of the unbalance.
  • the laundry located inside the drum keeps the close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the drum, without dropped from the inner circumferential surface, even during the rotation of the drum.
  • the case having the drum rotated at approximately 100 to 110 RPM is corresponding to this case.
  • the control part may store a reference unbalance value, which allows the acceleration of the speed according to the amount of the wet laundry as a table typed data. After that, the control part applies the sensed wet-laundry amount and the unbalance amount to the table and it determines whether the speed of the drum is accelerated.
  • the unbalance amount sensed according to the sensed wet-laundry amount is the reference unbalance value or more, it can be determined that the unbalance amount is too much to accelerate the drum speed and the above wet-laundry sensing, laundry disentangling and unbalance sensing steps are repeated.
  • the repetition of the wet laundry sensing step, the laundry disentangling step and the unbalance sensing step may be continued until the sensed unbalance amount meets less than the reference unbalance value.
  • the control part controls the drum to stop the rotation and notifies the user that the spinning cycle is not completed normally, if the speed of the drum fails to be accelerated for a predetermined time period, for example, approximately more than 20 to 30 minutes after the spinning cycle starts.
  • the control part implements the transient region passing step (S210).
  • the transient region is a predetermined RPM band including at least one resonance frequency which generates resonance according to the system of the laundry machine.
  • the transient region is a unique vibration property generated according to the determined system.
  • the transient region is variable according to the system of the laundry machine.
  • the transient region includes a scope of approximately 200 to 270 RPM in the laundry according to the first embodiment and a scope of approximately 200 to 350 RPM in the laundry machine according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a graph showing a relation of mass vs. a natural frequency. It is assumed that, in vibration systems of two laundry machines, the two laundry machines have mass of m0 and m1 respectively and maximum holding laundry amounts are ⁇ m, respectively. Then, the transition regions of the two laundry machines can be determined taking ⁇ nf0 and ⁇ nf1 into account, respectively. In this instance, amounts of water contained in the laundry will not be taken into account, for the time being.
  • the laundry machine with smaller mass m1 has a range of the transition region greater than the laundry machine with greater mass m0. That is, the range of the transition region having variation of the laundry amount taken into account becomes the greater as the mass of the vibration system becomes the smaller.
  • the related art laundry machine has a structure in which vibration is transmitted from the drum to the tub as it is, causing the tub to vibrate. Therefore, in taking the vibration of the related art laundry machine into account, the tub is indispensible.
  • the tub has, not only a weight of its own, but also substantial weights at a front, a rear or a circumferential surface thereof for balancing. Accordingly, the related art laundry machine has great mass of the vibration system.
  • the tub since the tub, not only has no weight, but also is separated from the drum in view of a supporting structure, the tub may not be put into account in consideration of the vibration of the drum. Therefore, the laundry machine of the embodiment may have relatively small mass of the vibration system.
  • the related art laundry machine has mass m0 and the laundry machine of the embodiment has mass m1, leading the laundry machine of the embodiment to have a greater transition region, at the end.
  • a start RPM of the transient region of the laundry machine according to this embodiment may be similar to a start RPM of the transient region of the conventional laundry machine.
  • An end RPM of the transient region of the laundry machine according to this embodiment may increase more than a RPM calculated by adding a value of approximately 30% of the start RPM to the start RPM.
  • the transient region finishes at an RPM calculated by adding a value of approximately 80% of the start RPM to the start RPM.
  • the transient region may include a RPM band of approximately 200 to 350 rpm.
  • a balancer In a case, a balancer is used, a method may be put into account, in which the rotation speed of the drum passes through the transition region while movable bodies provided in the balancer are positioned on an opposite side of an unbalance of the laundry. In this instance, it is preferable that the movable bodies are positioned at exact opposite of the unbalance in middle of the transition region.
  • the transient region of the laundry machine according to this embodiment is relatively wide in comparison to that of the conventional laundry machine. Because of that, even if the laundry even-spreading step or ball balancing is implemented in a RPM band lower than the transient region, the laundry might be in disorder or balancing might be failed with the drum speed passing the transient region.
  • balancing may be implemented at least one time in the laundry machine according to this embodiment before and while the drum speed passing the transient region.
  • the balancing may be defined as rotation of the drum at a constant-speed for a predetermined time period.
  • Such the balancing allows the movable body of the balancer to the opposite positions of the laundry, only to reduce the unbalance amount. By extension, the effect of the laundry even-spreading.
  • the balancing is implemented while the drum speed passing the transient region and the noise and vibration generated by the expansion of the transient region may be prevented.
  • the balancing when the balancing is implemented before the drum speed passing the transient region, the balancing may be implemented in a different RPM band from the RPM of the conventional laundry machine. For example, if the transient region starts at 200 RPM, the balancing is implemented in the RPM band lower than approximately 150 RPM. Since the conventional laundry machine has a relatively less wide transient region, it is not so difficult for the drum speed to pass the transient region even with the balancing implemented at the RPM lower than approximately 150 RPM. However, the laundry machine according to this embodiment has the relatively wide expanded transient region as described above.
  • the laundry machine may increase the balancing RPM in comparison to the conventional balancing RPM, when the balancing is implemented before the drum speed enters the transient region. That is, if the start RPM of the transient region is determined, the balancing is implemented in a RPM band higher than a RPM calculated by subtracting a value of approximately 25% of the start RPM from the start RPM. For example, the start RPM of the transient region is approximately 200 RPM, the balancing may be implemented in a RPM band higher than 150RPm lower than 200 RPM.
  • the unbalance amount may be measured during the balancing. That is, the control method may further include a step to measure the unbalance amount during the balancing and to compare the measured unbalance amount with an allowable unbalance amount allowing the acceleration of the drum speed. If the measured unbalance amount is less than the allowable unbalance amount, the drum speed is accelerated after the balancing to be out of the transient region. In contrast, if the measured unbalance amount is the allowable unbalance amount or more, the laundry even-spreading step may be re-implemented. in this case, the allowable unbalance amount may be different from an allowable unbalance amount allowing the initial accelerating.
  • the control part implements the accelerating step (S230).
  • the RPM of the drum 32 is accelerated at a relatively high speed to remove water elements from the laundry.
  • the RPM of the drum 32 is increased to a predetermined value and the moisture of the laundry inside the drum 32 is removed, in the accelerating step (S230).
  • the accelerating step increases the RPM of the drum 32 at the high speed and noise and vibration will be generated a lot in the laundry machine.
  • the noise and vibration may be increasing in proportion to the unbalance amount of the drum 32.
  • the laundry machine having the spinning cycle control method applied thereto may include the balancer 310 and 330 configured to prevent the noise and vibration generated by unbalance.
  • the balls provided in the balancer 310 and 330 are configured move to the unbalance corresponding positions to reduce the unbalance amount.
  • the balls of the balancer may moveable more smoothly in the normal RPM than the accelerated speed and in the relatively slow speed than in the high speed. Because of that, if the drum 32 is accelerated at the relatively high speed, the balls cannot move to the unbalance corresponding positions smoothly.
  • the spinning cycle control method may include a step of moving the balls to move to the unbalance corresponding positions, passing the transient region, namely, a balancing step.
  • the RPM used to implement the balancing may be set to be higher than the transient region of the laundry machine.
  • the balancing is more and more advantageous to implement, as the RPM of the drum 32 is getting lower.
  • the noise and vibration may be generated by resonance.
  • the first balancing of the control method may be implemented at a second RPM (RPM 2), for example, 350 to 400 RPM.
  • the control part After the balancing step, the control part increases the RPM of the drum 32 to a target RPM, to remove the moisture from the laundry. Then, the control part controls the normal rotation of the drum to be embodied at the target RPM for a predetermined time period such that it may remove the moisture from the laundry smoothly.
  • the unbalance amount of the drum has to be less than the reference unbalance amount as mentioned above.
  • the reference unbalance amount is set to be too large, the noise and vibration will be increased while the rotation speed of the drum is passing the transient region. Especially, when the target RPM is reached in the spinning step, the noise and vibration may be remarkably increased. In contrast, if the reference unbalance amount is set to be too small, the noise and vibration could be reduced in the following process and it takes too much time from the end of the laundry distributing step (S100) to the start of the spinning step (S200). In other words, if the reference unbalance amount is too small, the sensed unbalance amount fails to be less than the reference unbalance amount and the wet laundry sensing, laundry disentangling and unbalance sensing steps would be repeated. This may result in the increase of the spinning cycle and in the user's complaint.
  • the reference unbalance mount is set to be relatively high to reduce the time between the finish of the laundry distributing step (S100) and the start of the spinning step (S200), with reducing the noise and vibration in the following step simultaneously.
  • the drum 32 is connected with the tub back 130 in the laundry machine having the vibration of the tub separated from that of the drum.
  • the tub back 130 is supported by the suspension unit 180 via the bearing housing 400, not by the tub 12.
  • the drum 32 provided in the laundry machine according to the present invention may have large freedom.
  • the freedom of the front portion of the drum 32 may be increased. If unbalance is generated in the front portion of the drum because of the laundry concentrated on the front portion of the drum 32 (hereinafter, 'drum front unbalance'), vibration generated in the front portion of the drum 32 happens to be large.
  • the laundry machine includes a vibration sensor and the vibration sensor senses a vibration value of the drum, to determine the position of the unbalance generation inside the drum 32.
  • the control may sense the value transmitted from the vibration sensor.
  • the control part may determine that unbalance is generated in the front portion of the drum 32 and the control part may determine unbalance generated in center and rear portions of the drum based on the vibration value transmitted from the vibration sensor.
  • the vibration sensor may be located in the rear portion of the drum 32 and it may sense the vibration of the drum 32.
  • freedom of the front portion of the drum is increased in the laundry machine having the vibration of the tub separated from that of the drum as mentioned above and. because of that, if upward/ downward vibration and forward/rearward vibration of the drum are generated, compared with rightward and leftward vibration, the freedom of the drum front portion will be increased.
  • vibration values of the drum in upward/downward and forward/rearward directions may relatively large.
  • the control part may be determined the generation of the drum front unbalance based on the upward/downward vibration value and/or the forward/rearward vibration value.
  • both or either of the upward/downward vibration and the forward/ rearward vibration mentioned above may be sensed may be sensed according to the kind of the vibration sensor provided in the laundry machine, to determine the unbalance generation position.
  • the rotation speed (RPM 2) configured to sense vibration to detect the unbalance generation position of the drum may be higher than the transient region.
  • Much noise and vibration of the drum could be generated by resonance in the transient region. Because of that, in case the vibration of the drum is increased up to a predetermined value or more, it is difficult to determine whether the vibration is generated by the resonance or the drum unbalance position.
  • the second rotation speed (RPM 2) may be higher the transient region, for example, 350 to 400 RPM. Since the unbalance position of the drum is detected by the vibration sensor, the drum may be rotated normally at a predetermined speed for the accurate vibration sensing.
  • the control part controls the vibration sensor to sense the vibration value. In case the sensed vibration value is a predetermined value or more, the control part determines that unbalance is generated in the front portion of the drum. If the unbalance is generated in the front portion of the drum based on the result of the determination, the control part may re-implement the laundry distributing step (S100).
  • the drum front unbalance sensing of the vibration sensor may be implemented in the balancing step (S232) described above.
  • the rotation speed of the balancing step (S232) is approximately 350 to 400 RPM as described above and the step is in a constant speed operation period, such that it is possible for the vibration sensor to sense the drum front unbalance.
  • the vibration sensing step configured to detect the unbalance position of the drum described above according to the control method may be implemented in both of the unbalance sensing step and the accelerating step.
  • the unbalance sensing step senses unbalance and it compares the sensed unbalance with the reference unbalance amount allowing the acceleration of the drum speed.
  • the unbalance position of the drum is sensed based on the vibration value of the drum and the laundry distributing step is re-implemented.
  • the laundry distributing step is re-implemented without starting the spinning step.
  • the method of detecting the unbalance position of the drum in the unbalance sensing step is similar to the method of detecting the unbalance position in the accelerating step and repeated description will be omitted accordingly.
  • the reference unbalance amount allowing the acceleration of the drum speed may be adjusted based on the unbalance position of the drum.
  • the reference unbalance amount allowing the acceleration of the drum at each position may be determined differently.
  • the reference unbalance amount in case unbalance is generated in the front portion of the drum is the smallest and the reference unbalance amount in case unbalance is generated in the rear portion of the drum is the largest.
  • the reference unbalance amount in case unbalance is generated in the center portion of the drum is approximately a middle value of the two.
  • the reference unbalance amount is differentiated according to the unbalance generation position of the drum and it may be possible to reduce the noise generated in the following step.
  • transient vibration region a region where irregular transient vibration with high amplitude occurs.
  • the transient vibration region irregularly occurs with high amplitude before vibration is transited to a steady-state vibration region (hereinafter, referred to as "steady-state region"), and has vibration characteristics determined if a vibration system (laundry machine) is designed.
  • steady-state region a steady-state vibration region
  • transient vibration occurs approximately in the range of 200rpm to 270rpm. It is regarded that transient vibration is caused by resonance. Accordingly, it is necessary to design the balancer by considering effective balancing at the transient vibration region.
  • the vibration source i.e., the motor and the drum connected with the motor are connected with the tub 12 through the rear gasket 250. Accordingly, vibration occurring in the drum is little forwarded to the tub, and the drum is supported by a damping means and the suspension unit 180 via a bearing housing 400. As a result, the tub 12 can directly be fixed to a cabinet 110 without any damping means.
  • vibration As a result of studies of the inventor of the present invention, vibration characteristics not observed generally have been found in the laundry machine according to the present invention.
  • vibration dislacement
  • a region hereinafter, referred to as "irregular vibration" where vibration becomes steady after passing through the transient vibration region and again becomes great may be generated.
  • irregular vibration For example, if the maximum drum displacement or more generated in an RPM band lower than the transient region or the maximum drum displacement or more of steady state step in a RPM band higher than the transient region is generated, it is determined that irregular vibration is generated.
  • an average drum displacement in the transient region +20% to -20% of the average drum displacement in the transient region or 1/3 or more of the maximum drum displacement in the natural frequency of the transient region are generated, it may be determined that the irregular vibration is generated.
  • irregular vibration has occurred in a RPM band higher than the transient region, for example has occurred at a region (hereinafter, referred to as "irregular vibration region") in the range of 350 rpm to 1000rpm, approximately. Irregular vibration may be generated due to use of the balancer, the damping system, and the rear gasket. Accordingly, in this laundry machine, it is necessary to design the balancer by considering the irregular vibration region as well as the transient vibration region.
  • the balancer is provide with a ball balancer
  • the structure of the balancer i.e., the size of the ball, the number of balls, a shape of the race, viscosity of oil, and a filling level of oil are selected by considering the irregular vibration region as well as the transient vibration region.
  • the ball balancer has a greater diameter of 255.8mm and a smaller diameter of 249.2.
  • a space of the race, in which the ball is contained, has a sectional area of 411.93mm2.
  • the number of balls is 14 at the front and the rear, respectively, and the ball has a size of 19.05mm.
  • Silicon based oil such as Poly Dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used as the oil.
  • PDMS Poly Dimethylsiloxane
  • oil has viscosity of 300CS at a room temperature, and has a filling level of 350cc.
  • the irregular vibration region as well as the transient vibration region is considered.
  • the balancing may be implemented at least one time before, while and after the drum speed passes the irregular vibration region.
  • the rotation speed of the drum is relatively high, the balancing of the balancer may not be implemented properly and the balancing may be implemented with decreasing the rotation speed of the drum.
  • the rotation speed of the drum is decreased to be lower than the transient region to implement the balancing, it has to pass the transient region again. In decreasing the rotation speed of the drum to implement the balancing, the decreased rotation speed may be higher than the transient region.
  • the present invention has an industrial applicability.
  • noise and vibration generated in the laundry machine may be reduced and the time of the spinning cycle may be reduced simultaneously.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Steuerverfahren für eine Waschmaschine, die eine Trommel (32) aufweist, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
    Messen eines Betrags der Unwucht im Inneren der Trommel (32);
    Identifizieren einer Position der Unwucht im Inneren einer Trommel (32); und
    erneutes Durchführen eines Wäscheverteilungsschritts (S100) zum gleichmäßigen Verteilen der Wäsche durch Drehen der Trommel mit einer relativ niedrigen Drehzahl, in dem Fall, dass eine Unwucht, die in einem vorderen Abschnitt einer Trommel (32) erzeugt wird, in dem Schritt eines Beschleunigungsschritts (S230), bei dem die Drehzahl der Trommel (32) auf eine relativ hohe Drehzahl beschleunigt wird, um Wasseranteile von der Wäsche zu entfernen, und in einem Schritt zum Messen der Unwucht gemessen wird,
    wobei der Schritt zum Messen der Unwucht das Feststellen umfasst, ob die Unwucht in dem vorderen Abschnitt der Trommel (32) anhand einer Schwingung in Vorwärts- bzw. Rückwärtsrichtung erzeugt wird, die in der Trommel (32) bei einer höheren Drehzahl (RPM2) der Trommel (32) als in einem Übergangsbereich gemessen wird,
    wobei der Übergangsbereich ein vorab festgelegtes Drehzahlband ist, das wenigstens eine Resonanzfrequenz umfasst, die entsprechend dem System der Waschmaschine Resonanz erzeugt.
  2. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Messen der Schwingung erfolgt, wenn die Trommel (32) mit einer konstanten Drehzahl gedreht wird.
  3. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der Wäscheverteilungsschritt (S100) in dem Fall erneut realisiert wird, wenn die gemessene Unwucht ein Unwucht-Bezugswert oder mehr beträgt oder in dem Fall, in dem eine Unwucht in einem vorderen Abschnitt der Trommel (32) erzeugt wird.
  4. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 3, wobei anhand eines Vorwärts- bzw. Rückwärts-Schwingungswerts der Trommel (32) festgestellt wird, ob die Unwucht im vorderen Abschnitt in der Trommel (32) erzeugt wird.
  5. Steuerverfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Verfahren ferner den folgenden Schritt umfasst:
    Einstellen eines zulässigen Unwuchtbezugswerts, der eine Erhöhung einer Trommeldrehdrehzahl anhand der Position der Unwucht der Trommel (32) zulässt.
  6. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Position der Unwucht der Trommel (32) anhand eines Vorwärts- bzw. Rückwärts-Schwingungswerts der Trommel (32) festgestellt wird.
  7. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 6, wobei ein Unwuchtbezugswert, der eine Beschleunigung einer Trommeldrehdrehzahl zulässt, entsprechend einer Unwucht, die in einem vorderen Abschnitt, einem mittleren Abschnitt oder einem hinteren Abschnitt der Trommel (32) erzeugt wird, unterschiedlich eingestellt wird.
  8. Steuerverfahren nach Anspruch 7, wobei der Unwuchtbezugswert, der für die Unwucht, die in dem vorderen Abschnitt der Trommel (32) erzeugt wird, eingestellt wird, wesentlich kleiner als der Unwuchtbezugswert, der für die Unwucht, die in dem hinteren Abschnitt der Trommel (32) erzeugt wird, eingestellt wird.
EP10812326.6A 2009-08-27 2010-08-27 Steuerverfahren für eine waschmaschine Active EP2470706B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020090079912A KR101741549B1 (ko) 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 세탁장치 및 그 제어방법
KR1020090079923A KR20110022367A (ko) 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 세탁장치
KR1020090080126A KR20110022495A (ko) 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 세탁장치의 탈수행정 제어방법
PCT/KR2010/005809 WO2011025313A1 (en) 2009-08-27 2010-08-27 Control method of laundry machine

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EP2470706A1 EP2470706A1 (de) 2012-07-04
EP2470706A4 EP2470706A4 (de) 2014-12-17
EP2470706B1 true EP2470706B1 (de) 2017-07-12

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EP (1) EP2470706B1 (de)
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010002048A1 (de) * 2010-02-17 2011-08-18 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, 81739 Verfahren zur Einstellung einer Schleuderdrehzahl einer Trommel eines Hausgeräts zur Pflege von Wäschestücken
KR101708658B1 (ko) 2015-02-02 2017-02-21 엘지전자 주식회사 드럼 세탁기의 제어방법

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JP3316427B2 (ja) * 1997-07-23 2002-08-19 三洋電機株式会社 遠心脱水装置
ES2226663T5 (es) * 2000-06-30 2008-02-16 Whirlpool Corporation Metodo para detectar y controlar el desequilibrio dinamico en un tambor de una maquina lavadora y maquina lavadora que utiliza dicho metodo.
KR100471350B1 (ko) * 2002-05-17 2005-03-08 엘지전자 주식회사 드럼세탁기의 탈수 제어방법
JP4580813B2 (ja) * 2005-05-06 2010-11-17 シャープ株式会社 ドラム式洗濯機におけるアンバランス位置検知方法及びアンバランス位置検知可能なドラム式脱水機
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Publication number Publication date
WO2011025313A1 (en) 2011-03-03
CN102575407B (zh) 2015-09-09
EP2470706A4 (de) 2014-12-17
US20120151687A1 (en) 2012-06-21
CN102575407A (zh) 2012-07-11
EP2470706A1 (de) 2012-07-04

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