EP3794175B1

EP3794175B1 - A bearer for detecting dryness to be used in a washer/dryer operating in interaction with said bearer

Info

Publication number: EP3794175B1
Application number: EP19720857.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Resul KARTAL; Ali Levent Hasanreisoglu; Basak BENGU; Kadir Ceran; Nihat Gunduz
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-05-17
Filing date: 2019-04-29
Publication date: 2023-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-29
Also published as: EP3794175A1; WO2019219364A1

Description

The present invention relates to a bearer for detecting dryness.
In washer-dryers during drying process, parameters of the laundry items in a drum such as dryness, temperature, etc. have to be measured precisely and accurately. The duration of drying process depends on the laundry items reaching the accurate levels of dryness and temperature, and upon reaching of said levels drying process is terminated. Various sensors are provided on washer-dryers, enabling measuring parameters such as conductivity, temperature, humidity, etc., and the washer-dryer is controlled by means of the data received from such sensors.
Generally in washer-dryers, conductivity is measured during drying process and drying process is terminated according to this measurement. Conductivity is measured by means of two electrodes stably placed at the front portion of a drum. During drying process, the conductivity value of the laundry items can be measured when the laundry items in the drum contact said electrodes.
Laundry items are more conductive in humid state. The conductivity of the laundry items decreases as it dries and loses its humidity. The conductivity of only the laundry items contacting the electrodes can be measured during drying. The possibility of the electrodes contacting the laundry items significantly decreases when there is a small amount of laundry items in the drum which are not distributed homogeneously, thereby making it more difficult to determine drying. In this case, drying process is terminated by a timer. This, however, leads to drying process not being fully performed or the laundry items being thermally damaged by being over-dried.
There are several applications for detecting the dryness of the laundry items in the state of the art. One of these applications is, as mentioned above, detecting dryness by placing at least two electrodes to a position where they will contact the laundry items during drying process, and forming a current bridge between two electrodes when the damp laundry items contacts the two electrodes, and evaluating the difference between the resistance values of the electrodes.
A state of the art embodiment is disclosed in the international patent application no. WO2004022836 . This patent application discloses a washer-dryer comprising a sensor provided on a drum, communicating with a control unit by contactless signal transmission.
Another embodiment of the state of the art is disclosed in the European Patent Application no. EP0940494 . Said document also discloses a washer-dryer comprising a conductivity sensor used for detecting dryness of laundry items, and wirelessly communicating with a control unit. DE 10 2010 028354 A1 is used as a basis for the preamble of claim 1 and discloses a bearer.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a bearer for detecting dryness, and a washer-dryer operating in interaction with said bearer.
The bearer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, is placed in the drum together with the laundry items, moves freely in the drum with the laundry items, enables parameters relating to dryness of the laundry items such as humidity, temperature, dryness to be measured precisely and accurately by contacting all of the laundry items in the drum, and comprises at least one light source placed therein, and a light transmitting connecting piece provided on the bearer, enabling the light emitted by the light source to be dispersed in the environment of the bearer.
In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece is made of a partially translucent material.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece is made of a completely translucent material.
In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer is shaped as a hollow chamber, and in the preferred embodiment, it comprises a first and a second shell, and is preferably shaped as a sphere. The first and the second shells are coupled to each other by means of the connecting piece. In this case, the connecting piece is interposed between the first and the second shells. The first and the second shells are firmly and sealingly coupled to each other by means of the connecting piece capable of transmitting light. By this, humidity, vapor or water is prevented from penetrating the bearer in the drum which has a humid environment.
According to an embodiment which is not covered by the present invention, a washer-dryer may be adapted to operate in interaction with the bearer.
The bearer and the washer-dryer adapted to operate in interaction with the bearer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washer-dryer.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bearer and electrodes.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the first shell, second shell, connecting piece and the light source.
Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the bearer assembled with its components.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1. Washer/dryer
2. Drum
3. Bearer
4. Light source
5. First shell
6. Second shell
7. Base
8. Electrode
9. Connecting piece

The bearer (3) suitable for being used with a washer-dryer (1) having a drum (2) in which the laundry items are placed, comprises at least two electrodes (8) used for detecting dryness of the laundry items by contacting the laundry items inside the drum (2), a control unit in which the dryness information detected by the electrodes (8) is evaluated, at least one light source (4) placed therein, and a light transmitting connecting piece (9) provided on the bearer (3), enabling the light emitted by the light source (4) to be dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3) (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3).
The bearer (3) on which the electrodes (8) are placed and bearing the electrodes (8), is placed in the drum (2) together with the laundry items, moves freely with the laundry items in the drum (2), and enables parameters relating to dryness of the laundry items such as humidity, temperature, dryness to be measured precisely and accurately by contacting all of the laundry items in the drum (2). By means of the bearer (3) of the invention, the light source (4) activates when the bearer (3) is operating or being recharged, and the light emitted by the light source (4) in the bearer (3) passes through the connecting piece (9) capable of transmitting light and is dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3). This makes it possible for a user to externally observe the bearer (3), enabling the user to perceive whether the bearer (3) is operating or its condition.
According to the invention, the connecting piece (9) is made of a partially translucent material.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece (9) is made of a completely translucent material.
In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) is shaped as a hollow sphere and comprises a first and a second shell (5 and 6), and its outer wall consists of the first and the second shells (5 and 6) and the connecting piece (9) interposed between the first and the second shells (5 and 6). In this embodiment, the bearer (3) is preferably spherical. The first and the second shells (5 and 6) are coupled to each other by means of the connecting piece (9). In this case, the connecting piece (9) is interposed between the first and the second shells (5 and 6). The first and the second shells (5 and 6) are firmly and sealingly coupled to each other by means of the connecting piece (9) capable of transmitting light. By this, humidity, vapor or water is prevented from penetrating the bearer (3) in the drum (2) which has a humid environment.
In an embodiment of the invention, the spherical bearer (3) is formed by joining the semi-spherical first and the second shells (5 and 6) by means of a connecting piece (9) capable of transmitting light, disposed in between the shells so as to extend along the diameter. When the light source (4) provided in the bearer (3) is activated, the light source (4) emits light inside the bearer (3), the emitted light reaches the connecting piece (9) capable of transmitting light, and is dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3) by passing through the connecting piece (9). In this state, the user can conveniently observe the bearer (3). Thus, illumination is provided on the bearer (3) wall all along a spherical surface. In this embodiment of the invention, the two semi-spherical first and the second shells (5 and 6) and the connecting piece (9) are sealingly interlocked by means of screw pitches formed preferably along their edges and on the edges of the connecting piece (9).
In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) comprises a base (7) on which the light source (4) is mounted. The light source (4) is fastened on said base (7). In this embodiment of the invention, the base (7) and the connecting piece (9) are positioned parallel to each other inside the bearer (3).
In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second shells (5 and 6) are made of translucent material.
In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece (9) is a part which also bears the power supply.
According to an embodiment which is not covered by the present invention, a washer-dryer (1) is adapted to operate in interaction with the bearer (3).
In another embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) comprises at least two light sources (4) of which one activates when the bearer (3) is operating in the drum (2) and the other when the bearer (3) is being recharged.
In another embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) comprises at least one light source (4) radiating in a given frequency when the bearer (3) is operating in the drum (2) and radiating in another frequency when the bearer (3) is being recharged.
The bearer (3) is used to measure the dryness level of the objects it contacts in the environment in which it is placed by the user. The electrodes (8) made of conductive material, collect data in real-time from the objects contacting the bearer in the environment in which it is placed. In case the environment in which the bearer (3) is placed is moving, e.g. the drum (2) of a washer-dryer (1), the bearer (3) contacts almost all of the laundry items in the drum (2) as it can move freely, and enables receiving real-time dryness information from all of the laundry items. The electrodes (8) are thus enabled to contact all of the laundry items independent of the amount and the distribution of the laundry items in the drum (2), thereby enabling collecting the information of the parameters related to the dryness of the laundry items in the most precise and accurate manner. The electric current generated between the electrodes (8) during contacting of the electrodes (8) to the laundry items, is transmitted to the control unit (7) and the dryness of the laundry items is evaluated.

Claims

A bearer (3) suitable for being used in a washer-dryer (1) having a drum (2) in which laundry items are placed, said bearer (3) comprising at least two electrodes (8) used for detecting dryness of the laundry items by contacting the laundry items inside the drum (2), a control unit in which the dryness information detected by the electrodes (8) is evaluated, at least one light source (4) placed therein, and a light transmitting connecting piece (9) provided on the bearer (3), enabling the light emitted by the light source (4) to be dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3), wherein the bearer (3) is shaped as a hollow chamber comprising a first and a second shell (5, 6) and the connecting piece (9) is interposed between the first and the second shells (5, 6) characterized by the connecting piece (9) made of at least partially translucent material such that light emitted by the light source (4) passes through the connecting piece (9) and is dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3).
A bearer (3) according to claim 1, characterized by the light source (4) activating upon operation or recharging of the bearer (3).
A bearer (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the semi-spherical first and second shells (5, 6) and by the connecting piece (9) capable of transmitting light, disposed in between the shells so as to extend along the diameter.
A bearer (3) according to any one of preceding claims, characterized by a base (7) on which the light source (4) is mounted.
A bearer (3) according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, characterized by the base (7) and the connecting piece (9) positioned parallel to each other inside the bearer (3).
A bearer (3) according to any one of preceding claims, characterized by the first and second shells (5, 6) made of translucent material.
A bearer (3) according to any one of preceding claims, characterized by at least two light sources (4) of which one activates when the bearer (3) is operating in the drum (2) and the other activates when the bearer (3) is being recharged.
A bearer (3) according to claim 7, characterized by at least one light source (4) radiating in given a frequency when the bearer (3) is operating in the drum (2) and radiating in another frequency when the bearer (3) is being recharged.