EP2977497A1 - Machine à laver le linge avec cycle de filage adaptatif et son procédé de commande - Google Patents

Machine à laver le linge avec cycle de filage adaptatif et son procédé de commande Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2977497A1
EP2977497A1 EP14177877.9A EP14177877A EP2977497A1 EP 2977497 A1 EP2977497 A1 EP 2977497A1 EP 14177877 A EP14177877 A EP 14177877A EP 2977497 A1 EP2977497 A1 EP 2977497A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
rotating speed
maximum rotating
laundry
laundry items
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Withdrawn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
EP14177877.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mirko Gasparini
Andrea De Bernardo
Diana Moruzzi
Ivan Azzalin
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 Appliances AB
Original Assignee
Electrolux Appliances AB
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 Appliances AB filed Critical Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority to EP14177877.9A priority Critical patent/EP2977497A1/fr
Publication of EP2977497A1 publication Critical patent/EP2977497A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • D06F33/40—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of centrifugal separation of water from 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
    • D06F2101/00—User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2101/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • D06F2101/04—Quantity, e.g. weight
    • 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
    • D06F2101/00—User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2101/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • D06F2101/06—Type or material
    • 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
    • D06F2103/24—Spin speed; Drum movements
    • 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/38—Time, e.g. duration
    • 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
    • D06F25/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air 
    • 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
    • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
    • D06F34/16—Imbalance

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to laundry treatment appliances or machines.
  • the present invention refers to appliances for washing laundry and/or washing and drying laundry comprising a rotating drum, both for domestic and professional use. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adaptive spinning cycle.
  • Washing and washing/drying laundry machines - which will be referred to simply as laundry machine in the following - typically comprise a casing substantially parallepiped-shaped.
  • the casing accommodates a laundry-treating chamber, comprising a drum, generally rotatable, apt to contain the laundry to be washed (and dried in the case of washing/drying laundry machines).
  • the laundry-treating chamber further comprises a tub in which the drum is rotatably contained. The tub is suspended inside the casing by means of suspension elements (such as extension springs) and damping elements.
  • a front panel of the casing may be provided with a loading opening to access the treating chamber for loading/unloading the laundry, and a door is provided for closing the loading opening, particularly during the laundry machine operation; in such case the laundry machine is defined as front-loading laundry machine.
  • a top panel of the casing may be provided with a loading opening to access the treating chamber for loading/unloading the laundry, and a door is provided for closing the loading opening, particularly during the laundry machine operation; in such case the laundry machine is defined as top-loading laundry machine.
  • the casing also accommodates the electrical, electronic, mechanical (e.g., a motor for rotating the drum and an electronic control system for managing the laundry machine operation etc.), and hydraulic components necessary for the operation of the laundry machine (e.g., inlet and outlet hydraulic systems, treating agent dispenser etc.).
  • electrical, electronic, mechanical e.g., a motor for rotating the drum and an electronic control system for managing the laundry machine operation etc.
  • hydraulic components necessary for the operation of the laundry machine e.g., inlet and outlet hydraulic systems, treating agent dispenser etc.
  • washing liquid e.g., water or water mixed with washing products
  • in a washing phase washing liquid (e.g., water or water mixed with washing products) is introduced in the tub of the laundry machine by means of an inlet hydraulic system fluidly connected to the tub and is heated up to a predetermined temperature.
  • the laundry previously loaded into the rotatable drum is washed thanks to the chemical reactions exerted by the washing liquid, supported by the tumbling action caused by the rotation of the drum.
  • the washing liquid is drained from the tub into an outlet hydraulic system and then a spinning phase may be performed for removing washing liquid from the laundry.
  • One or more rinsing phases may follow, in which water is introduced into the tub for rinsing the laundry just washed.
  • a further spinning phase may be performed for removing water from the laundry.
  • a final spinning phase is typically performed, during which water is removed from the laundry (i.e., the laundry is de-watered) in order to obtain a desired final humidity (or rest humidity) for the laundry.
  • one or more operating parameters e.g., washing liquid temperatures
  • the drum is typically rotated at the maximum rotating spin compatible with the kind of loaded laundry, so as to remove as much water as possible from the latter.
  • the laundry may distribute unevenly within the drum causing unbalance - mainly, static unbalance, when the laundry mass/inertia is distributed along an axis parallel to a rotation axis of a driving shaft that rotatably connects the drum and a motor, and dynamic unbalance, when the laundry mass/inertia is distributed along an axis that do not intersect with the rotation axis of the driving shaft - that lead to substantial oscillation of the drum within the tub that are detrimental for the laundry machine operation (i.e., may reduce a power efficiency of the laundry machine) and may cause a damage and/or a faster wear-out of laundry machine component parts (e.g., deformation/wear-out of the drum, wear-out of a bellows connected to the drum etc.).
  • DE 19531656 discloses a process for regulating the spinning speed of a laundry drum. The process involves executing a first spinning process during a period of time at a first speed. Subsequently, the drum is brought into the tolerance range of a second speed and an imbalance measurement is carried out. A revolution speed profile is established for the further spinning process in accordance with the measured imbalance and on the basis of preset speed/time data.
  • FR 2577949 discloses means provided for automatically making the spinning time, during rinsing and/or during final spinning, dependent on at least one of the following parameters: the quantity of laundry introduced into the drum, the type of this laundry and the rotational speed of the drum.
  • the spinning time is, for example, proportional to the quantity of laundry contained in the drum, the coefficient of proportionality depending on the type of laundry.
  • the means disclosed requires the knowledge of the composition (in terms of types of cloth such as cotton cloth, synthetic cloth etc.) of the laundry in order to properly select the spinning speed and the spinning time.
  • the aim of this invention is devising a laundry machine in which a time-duration of each spinning phase is effectively and simply determined in order to prevent the drawbacks mentioned above and, at the same time providing laundry with a desired final humidity at the end of the spinning cycle.
  • Applicant has found that it is possible to effectively and simply controlling a spinning phase of a laundry machine by determining, for the maximum rotating speed permitted by the detected unbalance of the drum, the time duration of the spinning phase allowing obtaining laundry with a desired final humidity at the end of the spinning cycle, on the basis of a non-linear polynomial function of a variable related to the maximum rotating speed.
  • the non-linear polynomial function has at least a coefficient empirically determined.
  • the laundry machine comprises a drum adapted to house the laundry items to be treated, a motor arranged for rotating the drum.
  • the method comprises the following steps: obtaining an indication of an unbalance mass associated with the laundry items housed in the drum, determining a maximum rotating speed at which the drum is rotated by the motor on the basis of said unbalance indication, rotating the drum at the maximum rotating speed for a time interval having a time duration.
  • the method further comprises determining said time duration for which the motor rotates the drum at the maximum rotating speed on the basis of a non-linear polynomial function of a variable related to the maximum rotating speed.
  • the non-linear polynomial function has at least a coefficient empirically related to the specific geometry of the laundry machine.
  • the coefficient is empirically determined by detecting the time required to obtain a prefixed final humidity of the laundry items housed in the drum when rotating the drum at a prefixed maximum rotating speed.
  • said polynomial function is a quadratic polynomial function.
  • the step of determining a static unbalance mass comprises: measuring a inertia moment of the drum housing the laundry items; measuring a torque of the motor, and computing said static unbalance mass on the basis of said inertia moment and said motor torque.
  • the step of obtaining an indication of an unbalance mass comprises: measuring a dynamic unbalance mass associated with the laundry items housed in the drum; comparing the dynamic unbalance mass with a dynamic unbalance mass threshold, and wherein determining the calculated maximum rotating speed comprises, if the measured dynamic unbalance mass is greater than the dynamic unbalance mass threshold: comparing the calculated maximum rotating speed with a predetermined maximum rotating speed, and selecting as the maximum rotating speed the lowest between the calculated maximum rotating speed and the predetermined maximum rotating speed.
  • the laundry machine further comprises a user interface adapted to receive inputs provided by a user, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, through the user interface, an indication about the type of laundry items to be treated by the laundry machine and/or a weight of the laundry items.
  • the method further comprises the step of rotating the drum in order to distribute uniformly the laundry items housed inside the drum before obtaining an indication of an unbalance mass.
  • the method further comprises the step of rotating the drum at a lower rotation speed lower than said maximum rotation speed for at least one further time interval preceding said time interval having said time duration.
  • the time interval that has said time duration is a last time interval of a plurality of time intervals during which the drum is rotated at a respective rotating speed.
  • the method further comprises repeating at least twice, during a laundry-treating cycle, the steps of: obtaining an indication of an unbalance mass associated with the laundry items housed in the drum; determining a maximum rotating speed at which the drum is rotated by the motor on the basis of said unbalance indication; rotating the drum at the maximum rotating speed for a time interval having a time duration, and determining said time duration for which the motor rotates the drum at the maximum rotating speed.
  • a laundry machine for treating laundry items comprising a drum adapted to house the laundry items to be treated, a motor arranged for rotating the drum, a control system for managing the operation of the laundry machine.
  • the control system is configured to perform the method mentioned above.
  • control system comprises a calculating unit configured for calculating said non-linear polynomial function based on the maximum rotating speed and a memory element adapted to store the coefficient, the maximum allowable centrifugal force, the measured static unbalance, the dynamic unbalance mass threshold and the predetermined maximum rotating speed.
  • control system comprises a look-up table storing a set of stored maximum rotating speeds, and for each stored maximum rotating speed, at least one corresponding time duration for which the motor have to rotate the drum calculated through said non-linear polynomial function, and wherein the control system is configured for selecting the time duration corresponding to a maximum rotating speed selected from the set of stored maximum rotating speeds on the basis of said unbalance indication.
  • Figures 1A and 1B are isometric and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a laundry machine 100 in which the present invention may be implemented.
  • the laundry machine 100 is a machine for treating laundry (such as for example a laundry washing machine or a laundry washing/drying machine) of the front-loading type.
  • laundry machines of the top-loading type may also benefit from the solution according to the present invention.
  • the laundry machine 100 comprises a casing or cabinet 105 preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, which encloses a washing tub, or simply tub, 107 (as shown in Figure 1B ) preferably substantially cylindrically-shaped, wherein the laundry is treated, along with any other component of the laundry machine 100 necessary for its operation (e.g., hydraulic, electronic and electromechanical apparatuses as described in the following).
  • the tub 107 houses a rotatable drum 110 preferably substantially cylindrically shaped, which, in operation, rotates about an axis A in order to tumble the laundry to be washed.
  • the tub 107 comprises, in a backside or backwall 107a thereof, a shaft opening 107b, in which a drum rotor shaft 110a is inserted.
  • the rotor shaft 110a is attached to the drum 110 and rotatably connected by means of a transmission apparatus 115 to a drum motor 120, preferably electric, comprised in the laundry machine 100 in order to rotate the drum 110 during operation.
  • the drum motor 120 is preferably, although not limitatively, positioned in a bottom position with respect to the casing 105.
  • the transmission apparatus 115 may comprise a transmission belt or chain 115a coupled with a pair of pulleys 115b and 115c, of which a first pulley 115b is mounted to the drum rotor shaft 110a while a second pulley 115c is mounted to a motor shaft 120a.
  • the rotating movement may be transferred to the drum in any known manner; for example, a motor may be directly connected to the drum (so called "direct drive”), with the motor shaft coinciding to the drum shaft.
  • a loading/unloading opening 125 is advantageously provided on a front side of the laundry machine 100.
  • the tub 107 is provided with a tub opening 107c
  • the drum 110 is provided with a drum opening 110b.
  • the tub opening 107c is adapted to be aligned with the loading/unloading opening 125 provided in the casing 105, and with the drum opening 110b of the drum 110.
  • a bellows 130 preferably made of an elastomeric and waterproof material, is mounted in a watertight manner (such as by gluing, by welding, by interference fitting, etc. ) to a border of the loading/unloading opening 125 and is coupled with a border of the tub opening 107c.
  • the loading/unloading opening 125 is closable by a door 135, which is hinged, preferably, to the casing 105 by means of a hinge (not shown in the figures).
  • the tub 107 is fluidly connected to a hydraulic apparatus (not shown in the drawings) adapted to provide washing liquids (e.g ., water mixed with detergents) in the washing tub 107 for treating the laundry therein, and to exhaust such liquids once used.
  • the laundry machine 100 may possibly comprise also a drying air apparatus (not shown) fluidly connected with the tub 107 adapted to heat up and blow drying air into the tub and draw therefrom moisturized cool air.
  • a user interface 140 is advantageously provided, preferably, although not limitatively, on a top portion 105t of the casing 105.
  • the user interface 140 may comprise a control panel 140a for selecting laundry treatment cycles (e.g., a set of operations and parameters designed for treating peculiar fabrics, such as wool items) to be carried out by the laundry machine 100, and a drawer 140b for loading laundry-treating products (e.g., detergents, softeners, bleachers, etc.).
  • the laundry machine 100 is advantageously provided with a control system 150 (e.g., comprising one or more microcontroller and/or other electronic devices) adapted to control the laundry machine 100 operation, which is preferably, although not necessarily, placed in a top position inside the casing in order to be less prone to contacts with liquids or humidity possibly leaking from the tub 107.
  • a control system 150 e.g., comprising one or more microcontroller and/or other electronic devices
  • control system 150 is advantageously configured to control spinning phases performed by the laundry machine 100 during operation in an adaptive way.
  • FIG. 2 it is a schematic block diagram of the control system 150 for controlling the operation of a laundry machine 100 according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.
  • control system 150 in order to control spinning phases, the control system 150 comprises a calculating unit 205 configured to perform mathematic operation (as described in greater detail below) and a memory element 210 adapted to store operating parameters and data (as described in greater detail below).
  • control system 150 can advantageously comprise one or more operating sensors 215 (e.g., comprising one or more angular speed sensor and torque sensors) adapted to acquire information about the laundry machine 100 operation; for example, the operating sensors 215 can measure a rotating speed w , and a torque associated with the drum 110.
  • operating sensors 215 e.g., comprising one or more angular speed sensor and torque sensors
  • the operating sensors 215 can measure a rotating speed w , and a torque associated with the drum 110.
  • the method of controlling a spinning phase of the laundry machine 100 is adapted to determine a reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr , generally reduced with respect to a default maximum rotating speed w Md at which the drum 110 can be rotated if the unbalance of the drum is low enough, which is set by default during the laundry machine manufacturing and, more preferably, reduced with respect to a laundry-treatment maximum rotating speeds w Mlt (in its turn lower than, or equal to, the default maximum rotating speed w Md ) at which the drum 110 can be rotated if the unbalance of the drum is low enough, each laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt being associated with a corresponding laundry-treating program (e.g., selectable by a user through the user interface 140).
  • a corresponding laundry-treating program e.g., selectable by a user through the user interface 140.
  • the determined reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is used as maximum rotating speed w M at which the drum 110 can be rotated without causing oscillations of the drum 110 within the tub 107 to become detrimental for the laundry machine 100 operation, as well as without provoking a damage and/or a faster wear-out of laundry machine 100 component parts (e.g., deformation/wear-out of the drum 110 and/or the tub 107, wear-out of a bellows 130 coupled with the drum 110 etc.).
  • the method further determines a time interval T SL for which the drum 110 has to be rotated at the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr in order to obtain a desired final humidity of the laundry treated.
  • a desired final humidity corresponds to the final humidity that would be achieved at the end of a selected laundry-treating program comprising a rotation at the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speeds w Mlt .
  • the time interval T SL is determined on the basis of a non-linear polynomial function of at least one variable related to the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr achievable by the drum 110 during the spinning phase.
  • non-linear polynomial function has at least a coefficient empirically determined (as described in the following).
  • the program maximum rotating speed w Mp associated with the laundry-treating program selected by the user is identified (block 305).
  • the user may modify the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt during a selection of the laundry-treating program (e.g., by means of the user interface 140).
  • the user has the possibility to reduce a value of the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt in order to obtain a different, higher, final humidity for the laundry or to reduce mechanical stresses suffered by the fabric thereof.
  • Having identified the program maximum rotating speed w Mp also a desired final humidity of the laundry items at the end of the spinning cycle is defined.
  • such desired final humidity may be predetermined and stored in the memory element 210, in such a way that any predefined washing program selectable by the user has its specific final desired humidity stored within.
  • a user may directly input through the user interface 140 the desired final humidity value and/or may select the desired final humidity value out of a set of final humidity values through the user interface 140.
  • a user may also input through the user interface 140 an indication about the type of laundry to be treated by the laundry machine 100 and/or the weight of the laundry in order to achieve a more accurate determination of the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr (dashed block 310).
  • the operating sensors 215 may comprise one or more weight sensor adapted to automatically determine the weight of the laundry inside the drum 110.
  • control system 150 first actuates the drum motor 120 for rotating the drum 110 in order to distribute uniformly the laundry items housed inside the drum 110 (block 315).
  • a static unbalance mass um s is determined as follows. An inertia moment of the drum 110 housing the laundry items is measured according to any suitable known manner (e.g., by means of the operating sensors 215; block 320 ). In addition, a torque of the drum motor 120 is measured (e.g., by means of the operating sensors 215; block 325).
  • the static unbalance mass um s is then computed by the calculating unit 205, preferably on the basis of a combination of the measured inertia moment and the measured motor torque in any known way (block 330).
  • the static unbalance mass um s thus computed may be stored in the memory element 210 of the control system 150.
  • a calculated maximum rotating speed w Mc is calculated by the calculating unit 205 that combines the static unbalance mass um s with data stored in the memory element 210.
  • the data f and r may be (permanently) stored in the memory element 210.
  • a dynamic unbalance mass um d is further determined for taking into account also its contribution to oscillations of the drum 110 within the tub 107 that are detrimental for the laundry machine 100 in determining of the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr .
  • the dynamic unbalance mass um d associated with the laundry items housed in the drum 110 is measured in a known manner (e.g., by means of the measurements performed by operating sensors 215; block 340).
  • the measured dynamic unbalance mass um d is compared with a dynamic unbalance mass threshold um d
  • the calculated maximum rotating speed w Mc is compared with a predetermined maximum rotating speed w Mp (decision block 360 ).
  • the predetermined maximum rotating speed w Mp is experimentally (or theoretically) defined during a design/prototyping phase of the manufacture of the laundry machine 100 in order to ensure avoiding any detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100 (i.e., the predetermined maximum rotating speed w Mp is sized to avoid detrimental effects associated with the measured dynamic unbalance mass um d greater than the dynamic unbalance mass threshold um d
  • the predetermined maximum rotating speed w Mp is selected as the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr for the spinning phase of the laundry machine 100 (block 365 ), thus ensuring to avoid any detrimental effects to the laundry machine 100 associated with the measured dynamic unbalance mass um d .
  • the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr thus obtained is compared with the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt (identified at block 305 ), i.e. the maximum rotating speed preset by factory default for spinning phases (decision block 355 ). If the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is greater than the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt (exit branch Y of decision block 355 ), a speed profile of the spinning phase needs not to be modified, i.e.
  • the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt is confirmed as the maximum rotating speed w M of the spinning phase (block 370 ), and the laundry machine 100 performs the spinning phase operation (block 375 ) with parameters preset by default (e.g., the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt ) .
  • the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is lower than the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt (exit branch N of decision block 355 )
  • the speed profile of the spinning needs to be modified, i.e. the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is set as the maximum rotating speed w M for the spinning phase (block 380 ).
  • a spinning phase of the laundry machine 100 generally comprises a plurality of intervals, and each interval has a respective time duration during which the drum 110 is rotated at a respective rotating speed (usually, different from a rotating speed of the other intervals).
  • each the interval of the spinning phase is designed in such a way to have a respective rotating speed greater than the rotating speed of the previous interval.
  • the rotating speeds of all the intervals spinning phase are checked and maintained lower, or equal to, the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr if selected as the maximum rotating speed w M (in order to prevent detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100 ) by the control system 150.
  • the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr for the spinning phase it is defined for how long the drum 110 has to be rotated at such reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr in order to obtain the desired final humidity for the laundry treated by the laundry machine 100.
  • the method defines a time duration T SL of the last interval of the spinning phase of the laundry machine 100 (in order to obtain a desired final humidity for the laundry treated by the laundry machine 100 ) during which the drum 110 is rotated at the reduced maximum rotating speed w M .
  • the time duration T SL is calculated on the basis of a non-linear polynomial function (step 385 ).
  • the variable rpm is derived from the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr (e.g. operation performed by the calculating unit 205); preferably, the variable rpm is a number of rounds per minute performed by the drum 110 while rotating at the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr .
  • the coefficients a, b and c are empirically determined in order to define a final humidity for the laundry items housed in the rotating drum 110 at the end of the time duration T SL for which the drum 110 is rotated at the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr . Therefore, the memory element 210 stores a plurality of sets of three coefficients a, b and c, each set being associated with a corresponding desired final humidity.
  • the sets of coefficients a, b and c are experimentally defined during a design/prototyping phase of the manufacture of the laundry machine 100.
  • the coefficients a, b and c of the corresponding set may be defined by solving a corresponding system of three equation (2), wherein in each of the three equations (2) the variables rpm and T SL are respectively the detected value of the variable related to the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr of the drum speed, and the corresponding time duration required for obtaining a prefixed final humidity (with a different prefixed final humidity for each equation (2) of the system) for the laundry items housed in the rotating drum 110, while the coefficients a, b and c are the unknowns which value can be easily obtained by solving the system of the three equations (2).
  • the parameters i.e., the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr and the time duration T SL ) of the spinning phase are determined and the method performs the spinning phase operation (block 375 ) according to the parameters just determined.
  • the method just described may be implemented several times during a laundry-treating cycle of the laundry machine 100, i.e. each time a spinning phase is performed during the same laundry-treating cycle.
  • FIG. 4 it is a schematic block diagram of an alternative control system 150' for controlling the operation of a laundry machine 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the control system 150' differs from the control system 150 in what follows.
  • the control system 150' comprises a look-up table 405 (instead of the calculating unit 205 previously described).
  • the look-up table 405 is adapted to store a plurality of reduced maximum rotating speeds.
  • each stored (reduced) maximum rotating speed w Ms stored in the look-up table 405 ensures that detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100 operation are avoided for corresponding measurements (e.g., torque, weight measurements), or for a corresponding range of measurements, provided by the operating sensors 215.
  • each stored maximum rotating speed w Ms of the plurality of the stored reduced maximum rotating speeds is (pre)calculated (e.g., during a designing/prototyping phase of the laundry machine 100 ), for example by means of equation (1) described above.
  • the look-up table 405 comprises a set of stored time durations for which the motor have to rotate the drum 110 at the stored maximum rotating speed w Ms , each for obtaining a corresponding final humidity of the laundry to be treated.
  • each stored time duration T SLs of the sets of stored time durations stored in the look-up table 405 is (pre)determined (e.g., during a designing/prototyping phase of the laundry machine 100) by means of a non-linear polynomial function such as the quadratic non-linear polynomial function (2) described above.
  • control system 150' first actuates the drum motor 120 for rotating the drum 110 in order to distribute uniformly the laundry items housed inside the drum 110.
  • the operating sensors 215 perform measurements (e.g., torque measurements) on the drum 110 containing the laundry to be treated.
  • the control system 150' selects a stored maximum rotating speed w Ms stored in the look-up table 405 as the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr according to the measurements performed by the operating sensors 215.
  • control system 150' is configured to select the stored maximum rotating speed w Ms among the stored maximum rotating speeds stored in the look-up table 405 more similar to a calculated maximum rotating speed adapted to prevent detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100 associated with the static unbalance mass um s and/or the dynamic unbalance mass um d indicated (i.e., inferable) by means of the measurements performed by the operating sensors 215 (e.g., the reduced maximum rotating speed that will be obtained by implementing equation (1)).
  • the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is compared with the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt (i.e., it is verified if it is needed to reduce the maximum rotating speed w M of the spinning phase).
  • the time duration T SL is selected.
  • the set of stored time durations associated with the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr i.e., the stored maximum rotating speed w Ms selected among the stored maximum rotating speeds stored in the look-up table 405
  • the stored time duration T SLs that substantially provides the desired final humidity at the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr .
  • the spinning phase is performed with the parameters (i.e., the maximum rotating speed w M and the time duration T SL ) just determined.
  • control system 150 it is possible to modify the spinning phase of the laundry machine 100 in such a way to automatically prevent detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100 (e.g., lowering the operating performance and/or provoking a damage and/or a faster wear-out thereof) and, at the same time, providing treated laundry items having the desired final humidity.
  • FIG. 5 it is a schematic diagram showing a controlled spinning phase according to an embodiment of the present invention compared with a known spinning phase.
  • a first spinning phase curve 505 illustrates a spinning phase for which the respective reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is equal to or greater than the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt , and therefore the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt is selected as the maximum rotating speed w M .
  • the first spinning phase curve 505 comprises a first portion featuring a first rotating speed w 1 and having a first fixed time duration T 1 (extending from an initial spinning time instant t 0 to a first portion final time instant t 1 , and defined by default), a second portion featuring a second rotating speed w 2 (greater than the first rotating speed w 1 ) and having a second fixed time duration T 2 (extending from first portion final time instant t 1 to a second portion final time instant t 2 , and defined by default) and a third portion featuring the default maximum rotating speed w Md and having a third time duration T 3 (extending from second portion final time instant t 2 to a final spinning time instant t 3 , and defined by default).
  • a second spinning phase curve 510 illustrates a spinning phase for which the respective reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is lower than the laundry-treatment maximum rotating speed w Mlt , and therefore the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr is selected as the maximum rotating speed w M .
  • the second spinning phase curve 510 comprises a first portion substantially corresponding to the first portion of the first spinning phase curve 505 (i.e., features the first rotating speed w 1 and has the first fixed duration T 1 , defined by default).
  • the second rotating speed w 2 results to be greater than the reduced maximum rotating speed w Mr , therefore during a second portion of the second spinning phase curve 510 the rotating speed of the drum 110 is limited to the value of the maximum rotating speed w M (i.e., in order to prevent detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100) for a whole time duration of such second portion of the second spinning phase curve 510 (equal to the second fixed duration T 2 , defined by default).
  • a third portion of the second spinning phase curve 510 features the maximum rotating speed w M (i.e., in order to prevent detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100 ) and has the time duration T SL (computed by means of the non-linear polynomial function (2) and extending from second portion final time instant t 2 to a final spinning time instant t 4 ), longer than the third time duration T 3 , in order to ensure a desired final humidity of the laundry being treated by the laundry machine 100 with the drum rotated at the maximum rotating speed w M .
  • the laundry machine 100 is configured to automatically limit the maximum rotating speed achievable by the drum 110 to a value that prevents detrimental effects on the laundry machine 100.
  • the laundry machine 100 is further configured to adjust a time duration of a last portion (i.e., the third portion in the example of Figure 5 ) of its spinning phase curve in order to obtain a desired final humidity of the laundry being treated by the laundry machine 100.
  • a further control system comprises a simplified calculating unit configured for calculating only the reduced maximum rotating speed on the basis of the measurements provided by the operating sensors and a look-up table storing only a plurality of time durations each one associable with a corresponding one (or more) reduced maximum rotating speed.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
EP14177877.9A 2014-07-21 2014-07-21 Machine à laver le linge avec cycle de filage adaptatif et son procédé de commande Withdrawn EP2977497A1 (fr)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180340283A1 (en) * 2017-05-26 2018-11-29 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance and method of operation
DE102018103933A1 (de) * 2018-02-21 2019-08-22 Miele & Cie. Kg Waschautomat und Verfahren zum Steuern und/oder Regeln eines Schleudervorgangs einer Schleuderphase eines Waschautomaten
DE102018132769A1 (de) * 2018-12-19 2020-06-25 Miele & Cie. Kg Haushaltsgerät
CN115516157A (zh) * 2020-03-30 2022-12-23 美诺两合公司 操作洗衣机的方法和洗衣机

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2577949A1 (fr) 1985-02-28 1986-08-29 Esswein Sa Machine a laver et a essorer a duree d'essorage variable
DE4229646A1 (de) * 1992-09-04 1994-03-10 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Verfahren zum Schleudern von nasser Wäsche
DE19531656A1 (de) 1995-08-29 1997-03-06 Aeg Hausgeraete Gmbh Verfahren zur Regelung der Schleuderdrehzahl einer Wäschetrommel

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2577949A1 (fr) 1985-02-28 1986-08-29 Esswein Sa Machine a laver et a essorer a duree d'essorage variable
DE4229646A1 (de) * 1992-09-04 1994-03-10 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Verfahren zum Schleudern von nasser Wäsche
DE19531656A1 (de) 1995-08-29 1997-03-06 Aeg Hausgeraete Gmbh Verfahren zur Regelung der Schleuderdrehzahl einer Wäschetrommel

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180340283A1 (en) * 2017-05-26 2018-11-29 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance and method of operation
US10619284B2 (en) 2017-05-26 2020-04-14 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance and method of operation
US11225745B2 (en) 2017-05-26 2022-01-18 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance and method of operation
DE102018103933A1 (de) * 2018-02-21 2019-08-22 Miele & Cie. Kg Waschautomat und Verfahren zum Steuern und/oder Regeln eines Schleudervorgangs einer Schleuderphase eines Waschautomaten
DE102018132769A1 (de) * 2018-12-19 2020-06-25 Miele & Cie. Kg Haushaltsgerät
CN115516157A (zh) * 2020-03-30 2022-12-23 美诺两合公司 操作洗衣机的方法和洗衣机

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