EP4053321A1 - Appareil de traitement de linge automatique à détection de hauteur de charge - Google Patents

Appareil de traitement de linge automatique à détection de hauteur de charge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4053321A1
EP4053321A1 EP22157348.8A EP22157348A EP4053321A1 EP 4053321 A1 EP4053321 A1 EP 4053321A1 EP 22157348 A EP22157348 A EP 22157348A EP 4053321 A1 EP4053321 A1 EP 4053321A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
laundry
treating appliance
automatic
automatic laundry
sensor
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Withdrawn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
EP22157348.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kurt L. Masciovecchio
Joel M. Sells
Joel Dennison
Luke Paul
Ryan Johnson
Bonnie VanVolkinburg
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.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
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 Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP4053321A1 publication Critical patent/EP4053321A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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 
    • D06F33/50—Control of washer-dryers characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F33/52—Control of the 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
    • 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
    • D06F21/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement 
    • D06F21/02—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement  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 
    • D06F33/32—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
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
    • D06F34/18—Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or 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
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/02—Domestic laundry dryers having dryer drums rotating 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • 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
    • D06F2103/04—Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of 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
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/58—Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
    • 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
    • D06F23/00—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 
    • D06F23/02—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 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
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/04—Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
    • 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
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/266—Gaskets mounted between tub and casing around the loading opening
    • 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
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/267—Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating appliance having sensors to detect the size of the laundry load.
  • An automatic laundry treating appliance that is configured to wash and dry laundry articles within the same chamber is referred to as a washing and drying combination machine or a washer/dryer combination or a washer/dryer combo.
  • the amount of laundry treated by a washer/dryer combination materially affects its performance. For example, if the laundry load size is too small (i.e., a small number of articles), the laundry articles can become very wrinkled during the treating process. On the other hand, if the laundry load size is too large (i.e., a large number of articles), the washing treatment may not be as effective as desired.
  • the inventors have recognized a need for a reliable system to determine the size of the laundry load as the laundry is being loaded into an automatic laundry treating appliance, and to guide the user to load an amount of laundry within an optimal range before the laundry treating process begins. Further, the inventors have recognized a need to provide post-treatment feedback to the user concerning optimization of the load size for future loads.
  • An automatic laundry treating appliance such as a washer/dryer combination, is disclosed.
  • the automatic laundry treating appliance includes a treating chamber located inside the cabinet (12) that is configured to receive laundry to be treated.
  • the treating chamber may be defined by the interior of a drum configured to rotate about a horizontal axis.
  • the automatic laundry treating appliance is a washer/dryer combination, the laundry can be both washed and dried in the treating chamber.
  • the automatic laundry treating appliance includes at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the height of the laundry at a location within the treating chamber. Multiple sensors may be used to detect the height of the laundry at various locations within the treating chamber. The output of the sensor(s) can be used to calculate a parameter indicative of a percentage fill of the treating chamber.
  • a communication device such as a visual display or audible device, is configured to communicate to a user whether the percentage fill of the treating chamber is below, within or above a determined optimal range. In some embodiments the communication occurs prior to initiation of treatment of the laundry.
  • data concerning the efficiency of a drying function of the automatic laundry treating appliance may be acquired during the drying function and used to provide feedback information through the communication device to the user and/or to adjust the determined optimal range.
  • FIGS. 1-3 show a laundry treating appliance in accordance with the present disclosure, which is a horizontal axis automatic clothes washing and drying combination machine 10.
  • a horizontal axis automatic clothes washing and drying combination machine 10 also referred to as a "washer/dryer combo" or “washer/dryer combination”
  • the present disclosure encompasses other environments, including other horizontal axis laundry treating appliances such as a laundry washing machine and/or a laundry dryer.
  • a laundry load is understood to include one or more articles.
  • An article includes, but is not limited to, a hat, a scarf, a glove, a sweater, a blouse, a shirt, a pair of shorts, a dress, a sock, and a pair of pants, a shoe, an undergarment, and a jacket, for example, as well as other items conventionally treated in an automatic laundry treating appliance.
  • the washer/dryer combination 10 comprises a cabinet 12 that defines an interior.
  • the cabinet 12 can be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, defining the interior, enclosing components typically found in a conventional washing machine, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, heating elements and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the disclosure.
  • a tub 14 is located within the interior of the cabinet 12.
  • a drum 16 is positioned inside of the tub 14 and rotatably mounted to the tub 14 or cabinet 12. The drum 16 rotates around a generally horizontal axis.
  • the drum 16 defines a treating chamber 18 for receiving laundry.
  • a door 22 can be movably mounted to the cabinet 12 to selectively close an opening 22 to the treating chamber 18.
  • the door 22 can have a handle 24 for pivotally opening the door about a hinge 26.
  • a bellows 28 is positioned between the opening to the treating chamber 18 and the drum 16. Laundry can be both washed and dried in the treating chamber 18.
  • the washer/dryer combination 10 includes one or more sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B configured to detect a height of the laundry in the treating chamber 18. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 , sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B may be positioned within or near the treating chamber 18. Sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B may be mounted to a non-rotating portion of washer/dryer combination 10, such as to the tub 14 or bellows 28.
  • each sensor 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B is a time-of-flight (“TOF") sensor that emits a light wave that is directed to the laundry. The light wave is reflected by the laundry back to the TOF sensor.
  • the TOF sensor generates a signal indicative of a distance between the laundry and the sensor based upon the amount of time it takes for the light wave to travel to the laundry, reflect from the laundry, and be received by the sensor.
  • the sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B are positioned such that each sensor detects the height of the laundry at a different location within the treating chamber 18.
  • the collective outputs of the sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B can be used to estimate the overall laundry load in the treating chamber 18 (the "percentage drum fill").
  • the determined heights of the laundry at various locations within the treating chamber 18 are averaged together to estimate an average laundry height, which can be used to calculate a parameter indicative of a drum fill percentage.
  • FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the use of six sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B, any number of sensors could be used and they could be mounted in various manners and locations, provided they are able to detect the height of laundry within the treating chamber 18. Further, sensors other than TOF sensors could be used, including without limitation, ultrasonic sensors, stereo cameras, and structured light cameras.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a functional diagram of components of the washer/dryer combination 10 involved in the determination of the percentage drum fill and actions taken in response thereto.
  • Washer/dryer combination 10 includes a controller 30 in communication with sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B, a visual display 34 and/or an audible device 32.
  • the visual display 34 may be a display screen, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an light emitting diode (LED) display, or any other type of indicator that is visible to a user.
  • the audible device may be a speaker, buzzer, chime or any other device capable of generating an audible sound.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the functionality of the system.
  • each sensor 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B generates output signals indicative of a distance between the sensor and the height of the laundry at a particular location within the treating chamber 18 at a given time.
  • the outputs of the sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B for a given time are illustrated in FIG. 5 in the Captured Depth Map 110.
  • the output signals of the sensors are communicated to the controller 30.
  • the controller 30 uses the outputs of the sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B to calculate a parameter indicative of the percentage drum fill as follows.
  • the controller 30 calculates an average laundry distance 120 by averaging the distance sensed by each sensor 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B. Each sensor can be equally or unequally weighted in the average calculation.
  • the calculated average laundry distance is buffered at 130.
  • a certain number of calculated average laundry distances, e.g., 5, are saved for filtering to remove noise and detect activity.
  • "activity" such as the user putting laundry into the drum, is detected, the result of which can be used as a criteria as to when to display the calculated drum fill percentage to the user.
  • a low pass filter is used to remove spikes in the average distance data.
  • a parametric regression function is used to calculate an average drum fill percentage from the average distance data received from the sensors 25A-B, 26A-B and 27A-B.
  • an exponential function is used between roughly 0% fill to 60% fill
  • a linear function is used between roughly 60% fill to 100% fill. If "activity" is determined to be low (at 170), then the a drum fill percentage is displayed to the user on the visual display 34.
  • the controller 30 determines whether the drum fill percentage is within a determined optimal range. If so, then the controller 30 may cause a visual and/or audible indictor to be generated by the visual display 34 and/or the audible device 32 that is indicative that the laundry load is within the optimal range. If not, then the controller 30 determines whether the drum fill percentage is below or above the lower or upper limits, as applicable, of the optimal range.
  • the lower and upper limits of the optimal range may be determined in a variety of ways. For example, the lower and upper limits of the optimal range may be predetermined based upon empirical data or otherwise. The lower and upper limits may also be determined or adjusted/modified based upon feedback data acquired by various sensors within the washer/dryer combination 10.
  • the controller 30 may cause the visual display 34 and/or audible device 32 to generate indicators of such. Such indicators can also be provided through an app on a mobile electronic device, such as a smart phone. Similarly, if the drum fill percentage is above the upper limit of the optimal range, the controller 30 may cause the visual display 34 and/or audible device 32 (and/or mobile electronic device) to generate indicators of such.
  • the visual and/or audible indicators of the laundry load height being: (i) within the optimal range, (ii) below the lower limit of the optimal range, and (iii) above the upper limit of the optimal range are preferably all different from each other.
  • the "below optimal range” indicator is configured to prompt the user to add additional laundry articles to the treating chamber 18, and the "above optimal range” indicator is configured to prompt the user to remove articles of laundry from the treating chamber 18.
  • One function of the system is to guide the user to put an amount of laundry articles into the treating chamber 18 that fall within a determined optimal range prior to initiating treatment of the laundry articles.
  • the controller 30 can be configured to determine whether the load was within an optimal range after completion of the drying function of the washer/dryer combination 10 and provide post-completion visual or audible feedback to the user.
  • the controller 30 may be configured to monitor the elapsed time required to dry the load to a desired level. If the elapsed time exceeds a determine threshold, such as 1 hour for example, it may be determined that the load size exceeded the upper limit of the optimal load size.
  • a determine threshold such as 1 hour for example
  • Other methods and/or sensors may be used to acquire data during or after the drying process to assess whether the actual load size was optimal for the drying function.
  • post-completion feedback can be provided to the user through the visual display 34 and/or the audio device 32 or through other communication methods, such as through an app on a mobile electronic device.
  • Examples of post-completion feedback can include efficiency data of the drying function, potential energy/cost savings possible through load size reduction, monthly reports on same, as well as various tips and tricks for improving drying efficiency and results.
  • the determination of whether the amount of laundry exceeded the upper limit of an optimal amount of laundry for the drying function can be used as feedback data by controller 30 to adjust the upper limit of the optimal range of laundry applied in the method described above and in connection with Figure 5 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
EP22157348.8A 2021-03-04 2022-02-17 Appareil de traitement de linge automatique à détection de hauteur de charge Withdrawn EP4053321A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17/191,951 US20220282417A1 (en) 2021-03-04 2021-03-04 Automatic laundry treatment appliance with load height detection

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4053321A1 true EP4053321A1 (fr) 2022-09-07

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EP22157348.8A Withdrawn EP4053321A1 (fr) 2021-03-04 2022-02-17 Appareil de traitement de linge automatique à détection de hauteur de charge

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US (1) US20220282417A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4053321A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN115029889A (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11692299B2 (en) * 2020-11-11 2023-07-04 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Dryer appliance and methods for improved operation

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5305485A (en) * 1993-01-04 1994-04-26 Whirlpool Corporation Cloth detection system for an automatic washer
US5515565A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-05-14 Whirlpool Corporation Wash liquid level control system for an automatic washer
WO2018095269A1 (fr) * 2016-11-22 2018-05-31 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 Procédé de détermination d'humidité de vêtements d'une machine à laver, et machine à laver
US20190284743A1 (en) * 2018-03-15 2019-09-19 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine and cloud server setting function based on object sensing using artificial intelligence, and method for setting function

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130312202A1 (en) * 2011-08-15 2013-11-28 Whirlpool Corporation Method for real time determination during loading of volumetric load size in a laundry treating appliance
EP3257995B1 (fr) * 2016-06-13 2019-10-23 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Procédé pour faire fonctionner un appareil de traitement du linge et appareil de traitement de linge

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5305485A (en) * 1993-01-04 1994-04-26 Whirlpool Corporation Cloth detection system for an automatic washer
US5515565A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-05-14 Whirlpool Corporation Wash liquid level control system for an automatic washer
WO2018095269A1 (fr) * 2016-11-22 2018-05-31 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 Procédé de détermination d'humidité de vêtements d'une machine à laver, et machine à laver
US20190284743A1 (en) * 2018-03-15 2019-09-19 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine and cloud server setting function based on object sensing using artificial intelligence, and method for setting function

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Publication number Publication date
CN115029889A (zh) 2022-09-09
US20220282417A1 (en) 2022-09-08

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