EP2659046A1 - A washing machine with self-cleaning feature - Google Patents

A washing machine with self-cleaning feature

Info

Publication number
EP2659046A1
EP2659046A1 EP11802951.1A EP11802951A EP2659046A1 EP 2659046 A1 EP2659046 A1 EP 2659046A1 EP 11802951 A EP11802951 A EP 11802951A EP 2659046 A1 EP2659046 A1 EP 2659046A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
load
self
cleaning program
water
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Withdrawn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
EP11802951.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Engin Bayatli
Omer Dogan
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.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
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 Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of EP2659046A1 publication Critical patent/EP2659046A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • D06F35/00—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
    • D06F35/005—Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying
    • D06F35/008—Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying for disinfecting the tub or the drum
    • 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 
    • D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • 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
    • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • 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
    • D06F2105/62—Stopping or disabling machine operation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a washing machine with self-cleaning feature.
  • the aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein it is effectively detected if there is any load in the drum at the beginning of the self-cleaning program.
  • the washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises a control unit providing to detect if there is any load in the drum at the beginning of the self-cleaning program.
  • the control unit checks three conditions in order to determine if there is any load in the drum, and if the control unit receives data stating that there is no load, it starts the self-cleaning program, if not, it does not realize the self-cleaning program and warns the user.
  • the control unit controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum, controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum and controls if there is any balanced load in the drum. If load is detected in at least one control, the control unit stops the self-cleaning program. The said controls are realized in any order.
  • the washing machine of the present invention is operated by the control unit according to a method comprising the steps below: taking water in until the water level in the tub reaches the level that dampens the laundry without the laundry being saturated by opening the valve; measuring the pressure by the pressure sensor; rotating the drum by controlling the motor; measuring the pressure again by the pressure sensor after the drum is rotated; stopping the self-cleaning program after deciding that there is load in the drum if the second pressure value is lower than the first pressure value.
  • the washing machine of the present invention is operated by the control unit according to a method comprising the steps below: discharging the water, if there is any water in the tub; rotating the drum by means of the motor at a speed predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof, lower than the resonance speed; detecting the unbalanced load; stopping the self-cleaning program if the detected unbalanced load is bigger than the unbalanced load value predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  • the washing machine of the present invention is operated by the control unit according to a method comprising the steps below: rotating the drum by means of the motor at least at a speed whereat the load is provided to stick onto the inner wall of the drum; stopping the motor; detecting the stopping time of the motor; stopping the self-cleaning program if the stopping time of the motor is lower than the stopping time predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  • control unit firstly controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum, secondly controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum and thirdly controls if there is any balanced load in the drum, in that order. If load is detected at any stage, the self-cleaning program is stopped.
  • load is provided to be detected precisely and without error before the starting of the self-cleaning program.
  • the load in the drum is detected by the control unit, even if it is balanced or unbalanced, or it absorbs water or not.
  • Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a washing machine.
  • the washing machine (1) of the present invention that has self-cleaning feature comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry to be washed is placed and a control unit (7) processing the self-cleaning program ( Figure 1).
  • control unit (7) checks three conditions in order to determine if there is any load in the drum (2), and if the control unit (7) receives data stating that there is no load in the whole, it starts the self-cleaning program, if not, it does not realize the self-cleaning program and warns the user.
  • control unit (7) controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) and controls if there is any balanced load in the drum (2). If load is detected in at least one control, the self-cleaning program is stopped. The said controls are realized in any order.
  • the washing machine (1) furthermore comprises a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) is placed, a valve (4) providing water intake by opening/closing the water line, a pressure sensor (5) detecting the pressure applied by the water taken into the tub (3) and a motor (6) rotating the drum (2).
  • the washing machine (1) of the present invention is operated by the control unit (7) according to a method comprising the steps below:
  • the washing machine (1) of the present invention is operated by the control unit (7) according to a method comprising the steps below:
  • the washing machine (1) of the present invention is operated by the control unit (7) according to a method comprising the steps below:
  • control unit (7) firstly controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), secondly controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) and thirdly controls if there is any balanced load in the drum (2), in that order. If load is detected at any stage, the self-cleaning program is stopped.
  • the self-cleaning program when the self-cleaning program is started by the control unit (7), it is detected if there is load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), if there is unbalanced load and if there is balanced load; if load is detected, the self-cleaning program is stopped.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)

Abstract

In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, when the self-cleaning program is started by the control unit (7), it is detected if there is any load in the drum (2); if load is detected, the self-cleaning program is stopped.

Description

    A WASHING MACHINE WITH SELF-CLEANING FEATURE
  • The present invention relates to a washing machine with self-cleaning feature.
  • In washing machines, special programs are used in order to clean the surfaces that the washing liquid contacts. These programs, called self-cleaning programs, have different conditions than other programs wherein laundry cleaning processes are realized. High water temperatures, sudden and variable drum movements, high drum rotation speeds, etc. are realized during self-cleaning programs. Thus, when the self-cleaning program is operated in the washing machine, there has to be no load in the drum, that is the drum has to be empty. If the self-cleaning program is realized in a drum with load therein, both the washing machine and the laundry in the drum are damaged. Some of the state of the art methods used for detecting if there is any load in the drum when the self-cleaning program is started by the user are described below.
  • In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP 1 860 226 B1, a washing machine operated according to the self-cleaning program is described.
  • In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO 2007/073012 A1, a washing machine operated according to the self-cleaning program is described.
  • The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein it is effectively detected if there is any load in the drum at the beginning of the self-cleaning program.
  • The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises a control unit providing to detect if there is any load in the drum at the beginning of the self-cleaning program.
  • When the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the control unit checks three conditions in order to determine if there is any load in the drum, and if the control unit receives data stating that there is no load, it starts the self-cleaning program, if not, it does not realize the self-cleaning program and warns the user.
  • The control unit controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum, controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum and controls if there is any balanced load in the drum. If load is detected in at least one control, the control unit stops the self-cleaning program. The said controls are realized in any order.
  • In order to control if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the washing machine of the present invention is operated by the control unit according to a method comprising the steps below: taking water in until the water level in the tub reaches the level that dampens the laundry without the laundry being saturated by opening the valve; measuring the pressure by the pressure sensor; rotating the drum by controlling the motor; measuring the pressure again by the pressure sensor after the drum is rotated; stopping the self-cleaning program after deciding that there is load in the drum if the second pressure value is lower than the first pressure value.
  • In order to control if there is any unbalanced load in the drum when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the washing machine of the present invention is operated by the control unit according to a method comprising the steps below: discharging the water, if there is any water in the tub; rotating the drum by means of the motor at a speed predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof, lower than the resonance speed; detecting the unbalanced load; stopping the self-cleaning program if the detected unbalanced load is bigger than the unbalanced load value predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  • In order to control if there is any balanced load in the drum when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the washing machine of the present invention is operated by the control unit according to a method comprising the steps below: rotating the drum by means of the motor at least at a speed whereat the load is provided to stick onto the inner wall of the drum; stopping the motor; detecting the stopping time of the motor; stopping the self-cleaning program if the stopping time of the motor is lower than the stopping time predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit firstly controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum, secondly controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum and thirdly controls if there is any balanced load in the drum, in that order. If load is detected at any stage, the self-cleaning program is stopped.
  • By means of the present invention, load is provided to be detected precisely and without error before the starting of the self-cleaning program. The load in the drum is detected by the control unit, even if it is balanced or unbalanced, or it absorbs water or not.
  • A washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where:
  • Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a washing machine.
  • The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
    1. Washing machine
    2. Drum
    3. Tub
    4. Valve
    5. Pressure sensor
    6. Motor
    7. Control unit
  • The washing machine (1) of the present invention that has self-cleaning feature comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry to be washed is placed and a control unit (7) processing the self-cleaning program (Figure 1).
  • When the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the control unit (7) checks three conditions in order to determine if there is any load in the drum (2), and if the control unit (7) receives data stating that there is no load in the whole, it starts the self-cleaning program, if not, it does not realize the self-cleaning program and warns the user.
  • Before starting the self-cleaning program, the control unit (7) controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) and controls if there is any balanced load in the drum (2). If load is detected in at least one control, the self-cleaning program is stopped. The said controls are realized in any order.
  • The washing machine (1) furthermore comprises a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) is placed, a valve (4) providing water intake by opening/closing the water line, a pressure sensor (5) detecting the pressure applied by the water taken into the tub (3) and a motor (6) rotating the drum (2).
  • In order to control if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2) when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the washing machine (1) of the present invention is operated by the control unit (7) according to a method comprising the steps below:
    • taking water in until the water level in the tub (3) reaches the level that dampens the laundry without the laundry being fully saturated by opening the valve (4),
    • measuring the pressure (P1) by the pressure sensor (5);
    • rotating the drum (2) by controlling the motor (6);
    • measuring the pressure (P2) again by the pressure sensor (5) after the drum (2) is rotated,
    • stopping the self-cleaning program after deciding that there is load in the drum (2) if the second pressure value (P2) is lower than the first pressure value (P1).
  • In order to control if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the washing machine (1) of the present invention is operated by the control unit (7) according to a method comprising the steps below:
    • discharging the water, if there is any water in the tub (3);
    • rotating the drum (2) by means of the motor (6) at a speed lower than the resonance speed value predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof;
    • detecting the unbalanced load (L1);
    • stopping the self-cleaning program if the detected unbalanced load (L1) is bigger than the unbalanced load value (L) predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  • In order to control if there is any balanced load in the drum (2) when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, the washing machine (1) of the present invention is operated by the control unit (7) according to a method comprising the steps below:
    • rotating the drum (2) by means of the motor (6) at least at a speed whereat the load is provided to stick onto the inner wall of the drum (2);
    • stopping the motor (6);
    • detecting the stopping time (t1) of the motor (6);
    • stopping the self-cleaning program if the stopping time (t1) of the motor (6) is lower than the stopping time (t) predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (7) firstly controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), secondly controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) and thirdly controls if there is any balanced load in the drum (2), in that order. If load is detected at any stage, the self-cleaning program is stopped.
  • In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, when the self-cleaning program is started by the control unit (7), it is detected if there is load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), if there is unbalanced load and if there is balanced load; if load is detected, the self-cleaning program is stopped.
  • It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should also be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims (6)

  1. A washing machine (1) having self-cleaning feature, comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry to be washed is placed and a control unit (7) processing the self-cleaning program, characterized by the control unit (7) that detects if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), that detects if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2), that detects if there is any balanced load in the drum (2) and if load is detected in at least one control, that stops the self-cleaning program.
  2. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (7) that firstly controls if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2), that secondly controls if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) and that finally controls if there is any balanced load in the drum (2), in that order; if any load is detected at any stage, that stops that self-cleaning program.
  3. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a tub (3) wherein the drum (2) is placed, a valve (4) providing water intake by opening/closing the water line, a pressure sensor (5) detecting the pressure applied by the water taken into the tub (3) and a motor (6) rotating the drum (2).
  4. A control method that is operated by the control unit (7), in the washing machine (1) as in Claim 3, in order to control if there is any load that has water-absorption feature in the drum (2) when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, that comprises the steps of:
    - taking water in until the water level in the tub (3) reaches the level that dampens the laundry without the laundry being fully saturated by opening the valve (4),
    - measuring the pressure (P1) by the pressure sensor (5);
    - rotating the drum (2) by controlling the motor (6);
    - measuring the pressure (P2) again by the pressure sensor (5) after the drum (2) is rotated,
    - stopping the self-cleaning program after deciding that there is load in the drum (2) if the second pressure value (P2) is lower than the first pressure value (P1).
  5. A control method that is operated by the control unit (7), in the washing machine (1) as in Claim 3, in order to control if there is any unbalanced load in the drum (2) when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, that comprises the steps of:
    - discharging the water, if there is any water in the tub (3);
    - rotating the drum (2) by means of the motor (6) at a speed lower than the resonance speed value predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof;
    - detecting the unbalanced load (L1);
    - stopping the self-cleaning program if the detected unbalanced load (L1) is bigger than the unbalanced load value (L) predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
  6. A control method that is operated by the control unit (7), in the washing machine (1) as in Claim 3, in order to control if there is any balanced load in the drum (2) when the self-cleaning program is selected by the user, that comprises the steps of:
    - rotating the drum (2) by means of the motor (6) at least at a speed whereat the load is provided to stick onto the inner wall of the drum (2);
    - stopping the motor (6);
    - detecting the stopping time (t1) of the motor (6);
    - stopping the self-cleaning program if the stopping time (t1) of the motor (6) is lower than the stopping time (t) predetermined by the producer and recorded in the memory thereof.
EP11802951.1A 2010-12-29 2011-12-22 A washing machine with self-cleaning feature Withdrawn EP2659046A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TR201011095 2010-12-29
PCT/EP2011/073861 WO2012089628A1 (en) 2010-12-29 2011-12-22 A washing machine with self-cleaning feature

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2659046A1 true EP2659046A1 (en) 2013-11-06

Family

ID=45440543

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11802951.1A Withdrawn EP2659046A1 (en) 2010-12-29 2011-12-22 A washing machine with self-cleaning feature

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2659046A1 (en)
CN (1) CN103380243B (en)
AU (1) AU2011351584B2 (en)
RU (1) RU2560352C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2012089628A1 (en)

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CN105506923A (en) * 2014-09-24 2016-04-20 无锡小天鹅股份有限公司 Washing machine and imbalance detection method for same
KR102284641B1 (en) 2015-01-05 2021-07-30 엘지전자 주식회사 Method for controlling washing machine
KR102606118B1 (en) 2016-09-01 2023-11-24 엘지전자 주식회사 Method for controlling washing machine
CN112064291B (en) * 2019-05-23 2023-11-17 博西华电器（江苏）有限公司 Washing machine and control method thereof
CN110983720A (en) * 2019-12-19 2020-04-10 无锡飞翎电子有限公司 Control method and device of clothes treatment device and clothes treatment device

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JP4663014B2 (en) * 2005-12-22 2011-03-30 エルジー エレクトロニクス インコーポレイティド Washing machine tub washing method and washing machine equipped with washing tub washing course
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JP4691059B2 (en) * 2007-03-22 2011-06-01 株式会社東芝 Washing and drying machine
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN103380243B (en) 2016-11-09
RU2560352C2 (en) 2015-08-20
AU2011351584B2 (en) 2016-10-06
RU2013135272A (en) 2015-02-10
CN103380243A (en) 2013-10-30
WO2012089628A1 (en) 2012-07-05
AU2011351584A1 (en) 2013-07-18

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