EP4180561A1 - Method for determining a mechanical effect on pieces of laundry and laundry care machine for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining a mechanical effect on items of laundry 12 during their care treatment in a laundry care machine 1, which has a drum 4 arranged therein and rotated about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation 5 by means of a motor 13 and having an interior 6 in which the Items of laundry 12 are accommodated, with the drum 4 having an approximately cylindrical casing 7 on which at least one driver 11 for taking the items of laundry 12 along when the drum 4 rotates is arranged, and in which method a power value of the motor 13 is recorded with the aid of a power sensor 14 , which is evaluated to determine the mechanical action on the laundry items 12. In addition, a video image 16 of the items of laundry 12 moving in the interior 6 is recorded using a video image sensor 15 and data on the movements of the items of laundry 12 are determined from the video image 16 and evaluated to determine the mechanical action on the items of laundry 12 . The invention relates to a laundry care machine 1 for carrying out this method.

Description

The invention relates to a method for determining a mechanical effect on items of laundry during their care treatment in a laundry care machine, which has a drum arranged therein and rotated about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation by a motor with an interior space in which the items of laundry are accommodated, the The drum has an approximately cylindrical shell on which at least one driver is arranged to take the laundry items with it when the drum rotates, and in which method a power value of the motor is recorded, which is evaluated to determine the mechanical action on the laundry items.

The invention also relates to a laundry care machine for carrying out such a method.

The document DE 10 2020 202 341 A1 discloses a method of the type defined at the outset and a laundry care machine in which such a method can be carried out.

The effectiveness of a washing process for laundry items is basically measured by four parameters that relate to the contributions of chemistry, mechanics, temperature and time and are usually represented in a circle diagram, the so-called Sinner's circle. Of these four parameters, the parameter relating to the mechanics in a conventional laundry care machine is the most difficult to measure quantitatively. Especially in a laundry care machine with a cylindrical drum that can be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis and that accommodates the items of laundry to be cared for, the mechanism is determined by the lifting, rolling and dropping of the items of laundry by drivers that are attached to the inside of the cylindrical shell of the drum . In order to be able to determine the contribution of such mechanics to a washing process, a method for determining a mechanical effect on items of laundry during their care treatment in a laundry care machine must be provided.

The document DE 10 2020 202 341 A1 discloses a laundry care machine, the drum of which can be rotated by an electric motor, a power sensor for measuring the electric power consumed by the motor being assigned to the motor. With At least one electrical power parameter can be detected by the power sensor, from which a movement behavior of the laundry items in the drum can then be determined. A rotational speed of the drum can be controlled depending on the at least one performance parameter.

The document WO 2009/112222 A1 discloses a laundry care machine in which a signal describing an interaction between the laundry and the drum in which the laundry is located for care is recorded and evaluated. This signal is recorded in particular by an acceleration sensor that is attached to the tub of the laundry care machine. The acceleration sensor is intended to deliver a signal from which the falling of an item of laundry, which was conveyed up by a driver located in the drum when the drum was rotating, can be reconstructed. In principle, a camera should also be suitable for capturing such a signal, with the cited document not disclosing any detail in this regard. A control of a rotational speed of the drum depending on the signal is described.

Each of the documents CN 110699912A and WO 2020/215777 A1 discloses a laundry care machine in which a camera is provided for determining the movement of laundry items. According to the first-mentioned document, the laundry care machine also includes a lockable suspension for the tub in order to be able to determine the movement of the items of laundry independently of operational vibrations of the tub. According to the second-mentioned document, a movement of the center of gravity of all of the items of laundry to be treated is determined by means of the camera.

The document EP 2 217 752 B1 discloses a laundry care machine in which a measurement of oscillating movements of the tub during the care of items of laundry takes place. A rotational speed of the drum with the laundry items is adjusted in such a way that the swinging movements are maximized. The oscillating movements are measured in particular by determining and evaluating the power that the motor driving the drum consumes as a function of these oscillating movements.

The document EP 2 199 449 B1 discloses a laundry care machine in which a measurement of a pressure of a suds used for treating items of laundry is provided in the suds container of the laundry care machine. In particular, a time profile of the pressure is determined and with a predetermined typical profile compared. A period of time for which the treatment of the items of laundry is to be continued is determined on the basis of deviations in the specific time profile from the typical profile.

The known methods for determining a mechanical effect on items of laundry during their care treatment in a laundry care machine only determine signals derived from the actual mechanical effect, which describe this effect only imperfectly and summarily, in particular as an average averaged over all items of laundry present. This is the case, for example, for a signal indicative of a power parameter of the motor driving the drum and also for a signal corresponding to the variation of the center of gravity of the laundry items as a whole during a care process.

The overall effectiveness of a washing process can be determined by treating items of laundry specified according to the relevant standard, to which specified soiling has been specifically applied, with the process and evaluating them after the treatment. The influence of these parameters on the effectiveness of the process can be estimated through targeted variation of individual parameters of the process, but such a method is complex and inaccurate in view of the unavoidable scattering of measurement results in the evaluation of treated laundry items.

There is therefore a need for a generic method and a corresponding laundry care machine in which and in which the determination of a mechanical effect on laundry items during their care treatment can be carried out more precisely and taking into account the movements of individual laundry items, and it is an object of the invention to specify such a method and such a laundry care machine.

To solve this problem, according to the invention, a method is specified with the generic features listed at the beginning and in the preamble of the corresponding independent patent claim, which additionally has the features of the characterizing part of this independent patent claim.

To solve this problem, a laundry care machine for carrying out the method according to the invention is also specified according to the corresponding independent patent claim.

Preferred configurations of the invention are listed in the dependent patent claims and in the following description and can also be used in combinations with one another, insofar as this is permitted by technical considerations, even if this is not explicitly stated here. Preferred configurations of the method according to the invention correspond to preferred configurations of the laundry care machine according to the invention and vice versa, even if this is not explicitly stated here.

To achieve the object, according to the invention, a method is accordingly specified for determining a mechanical effect on items of laundry during their care treatment in a laundry care machine, which has a drum arranged therein and rotated about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation by a motor, with an interior space in which the items of laundry are accommodated, the drum having an approximately cylindrical casing on which at least one driver for carrying the items of laundry along when the drum rotates is arranged, and in which method a power value of the motor is recorded, which is used to determine the mechanical action on the items of laundry is evaluated. In addition, a video image of the items of laundry moving in the interior is recorded and data on the movements of the items of laundry are determined from the video image and evaluated to determine the mechanical action on the items of laundry.

To achieve the object, according to the invention, a laundry care machine is accordingly also specified which is set up to carry out the method according to the invention.

According to the invention, a precise detection of the movement of the items of laundry is thus possible, with essentially each individual item of laundry being observed and the mechanical action on this item of laundry being able to be determined. This also makes it possible to evaluate a predetermined laundry care process with regard to the associated mechanical effect on the laundry items being cared for. It is thus also possible to optimize a given laundry care process, in particular by introducing fixed changes or by controlling as a function of the mechanical action continuously determined during the process. Optimization can take place according to various criteria. A first possibility is to maximize the mechanical impact during the process in order to be able to reduce other process parameters such as temperature, chemistry and time accordingly. A second possibility is to use a washing process for delicate textiles such as wool and silk fabrics with regard to the to monitor mechanical impact and to keep mechanical impact to a minimum. In addition, the determination of the mechanical action can also support the determination of the quantity, mass and type of laundry items present in a laundry care process.

The power value may include one or more values describing the power supplied to move the drum. In particular, the motor speed of the motor as a measure of the rotational speed of the drum and the motor current as a measure of the torque acting on the drum are jointly determined and evaluated. The power delivered by the motor can be determined from these two values by multiplying them. The term "power value" thus includes both scalar and vectorial values in the present case. Furthermore, the term "power value" also includes other physical values or derived values that clearly correlate with the aforementioned power value. For example, instead of the motor current, the torque, the slip, the voltage induced by the motor could also be recorded and evaluated as a "power value".

A particular advantage of the invention is that the mechanical action on an item of laundry during treatment in a laundry care process can be determined directly and immediately. As a result, the mechanical action and its influence on the effectiveness of the laundry care process can be determined on its own and relatively accurately.

In principle, the invention can be applied to any type of laundry care machine, especially since the outlay required to use the invention is very low. In addition to the conventional washing machine, the tumble dryer and washer-dryer can also be considered. It does not necessarily depend on how the axis of rotation of the drum is oriented in space as intended. The axis of rotation can be oriented horizontally, as described in detail below, but it can also be oriented at an angle—in particular an acute angle—to the horizontal, not least to allow a user easier access to the interior of the drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical action is determined while the drum is being rotated by the motor at a substantially constant rotational speed. With further preference, the rotational speed is determined for washing the items of laundry. With additional benefit, the data of the movements of the laundry items include locations, Directions of movement and acceleration of the laundry items. As a result of corresponding specifications, the process for treating the laundry items runs largely stationary and can, if it is not already an intended washing process or the preliminary stage of such a washing process in development, at least model such a washing process. It also makes sense to record data on the movements of the laundry items as completely as possible, for which the invention provides the best prerequisites.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the power value is recorded and the video image is recorded over a period of time which corresponds to several complete rotations of the drum. More preferably, the period of time corresponds to approximately three complete revolutions of the drum, with the drum being rotated at a substantially constant rotational speed. Even more preferably, rows of individual values of the power value and partial images of the video image that are synchronous with one another are recorded over the period of time and synchronous individual values and partial images are correlated with one another, with the contributions of each item of laundry to the individual values being estimated. With additional preference, the movement is classified into one of the classes "rolling", "rolling-falling", "falling", "falling-fitting", "fitting" and "undefined" to determine the mechanical action for each item of laundry, the item of laundry in the "rolling" and "rolling-falling" classes, completely or partially rolls over the cover during its movement, in the "rolling-falling" and "falling" classes partially or completely falls off the cover after transport and in the classes "falling-fitting" and "fitting" is partially or entirely in contact with the jacket and in the class "undefined" cannot be assigned to any of the other classes. The process for treating the items of laundry thus runs stationary over a period of time that is appropriate and useful for the necessary measurements and allows reasonable and appropriate time for the collection of data on the movement of the items of laundry, with even an averaging of the data to improve the accuracy and significance of the evaluation is possible. The course of the movements of the items of laundry can also be determined and evaluated relatively precisely by correlating the synchronous individual values and sub-images with one another. The classification of the mechanical impact on the laundry items offers a simple and useful way to describe and evaluate their movements, as well as to further evaluate the data to determine the mechanical impact.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical action is determined by means of a machine learning process, the machine learning process using a support vector machine, logistic regression, decision trees or a trained neural network.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the determination of the mechanical action is used in a laundry treatment process, with the rotational speed of the drum being controlled at least at times as a function of the mechanical action on the items of laundry. With further preference, the rotational speed is controlled in such a way that the mechanical action corresponds to a predetermined target value. In this way, the laundry treatment process can be controlled and possibly optimized depending on how the drum is loaded with items of laundry and depending on other specifications, for example the degree of soiling of the items of laundry or restrictions on the mechanical action due to the composition of the items of laundry, as specified by a user.

In an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, the corresponding laundry care machine comprises a tub for receiving a process liquid, the drum being arranged in the tub and the jacket forming a gap with the tub, an inlet arrangement for admitting the process liquid into the tub, an outlet arrangement for draining the process liquid from the tub, a power sensor assigned to the motor for recording the power value, a video image sensor directed into the interior for recording the video image, and a control device to which the power value and the video image can be fed and which is set up to calculate the mechanical action from the power value and to determine the video image. Such a laundry care machine is particularly suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tub is connected to the housing via a movable sleeve and can be closed by a door, with the video image sensor being arranged in the door. The video image sensor, in particular a video camera, can have the interior of the drum particularly well in its field of view, so that a video image can be generated that is particularly favorable for the evaluation within the scope of the invention.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the motor is an electric motor and the power sensor is for measuring a power input from the motor electrical power. In such an embodiment, the necessary measurement signal can be generated particularly easily.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the corresponding laundry care machine is set up for washing and dehumidifying the items of laundry. More preferably, it is a washing machine.

According to the invention, the mechanical action on an item of laundry during treatment in a laundry care process can be determined directly and immediately. As a result, the mechanical action and its influence on the effectiveness of the laundry care process can be determined on its own and relatively accurately and, if necessary, evaluated as a function of the speed of the drum, the power consumption of the motor driving it and other process parameters. On the one hand, this creates the possibility of measuring this mechanical action, which can be helpful in the development or analysis of a washing process. As part of a correspondingly controlled laundry care process, the rotation of the drum can be controlled in such a way that an optimized mechanical action takes place, with this optimized mechanical action being able to be maximized or minimized in particular depending on the requirements of the respective individual case. Maximization may be desirable in a laundry treatment process designed for a short period of time or an overall high care effect, for example a quick wash process or a laundry process for treating heavily soiled laundry. Minimization may be desirable for a laundry treatment process for delicate fabrics such as fabrics made of wool, particularly knitted wool, or silk.

Fig. 1

eine schematisierte frontale Ansicht eines vertikalen Schnitts einer Wäschepflegemaschine;

Fig. 2

eine schematisierte seitliche Ansicht eines vertikalen Schnitts eines oberen Teils einer Wäschepflegemaschine;

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung des Klassifizierungsprozesses für die Bewegungen der Wäschestücke;

Fig. 4

ein beispielhaftes Ergebnis einer Verarbeitung der Signale, und

Fig. 5

ein Signal eines Motorstroms.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing. Show it:

1

a schematic front view of a vertical section of a laundry care machine;

2

a schematic side view of a vertical section of an upper part of a laundry care machine;

3

an illustration of the classification process for the movements of the laundry items;

4

an exemplary result of processing the signals, and

figure 5

a motor current signal.

figure 1 shows a schematic embodiment of the laundry care machine 1 according to the invention with a housing 2 and arranged therein a tub 3 for receiving a process liquid, in particular washing and rinsing liquor for textiles, partially cut open in a front view. The laundry care machine 1 is embodied as a washing machine 1 . A drum 4 that can be rotated about an axis of rotation 5 is arranged in the tub 3 . The axis of rotation 5 appears in figure 1 as an X surrounded by a curved arrow as a symbol of rotation.

The drum 4 has an interior space 6 for receiving laundry items 12 (in figure 1 not visible) and also has an approximately cylindrical perforated jacket 7, which forms a gap 10 with the tub 3. The coat 7 is in figure 1 not explicitly indicated, but recognizable as a dashed line.

An inlet arrangement 20, 21, 22, 23 serves to let the process liquid into the tub 3, and an outlet arrangement 24, 25, 26 serves to let out the process liquid from the tub 3. From the inlet arrangement 20, 21, 22, 23 shows figure 1 schematizes a dispensing tray 20 into which a user can fill detergent and washing aids and in which detergent and washing aids are mixed with fresh water in order to then be guided to the tub 3 . The latter is done through an inlet siphon 21, which causes a barrier to separate the air space in the tub 3 from the environment. This means that no moist air can escape from the tub 3 into the environment. The inlet siphon 21 leads to a first inlet 22 in the rear area of the tub 3.

From the outlet assembly 24, 25, 26 shows figure 1 an outlet 24 formed directly on the tub 3, which is located in a central area of the tub 3, a pump 25 for removing process liquid from the tub 3 and an outlet siphon 26, via which the process liquid conveyed by the pump 25 from the Laundry care machine 1 out.

The tub 3 is suspended for the sake of clarity not shown springs and shock absorbers swinging in the housing 2, so imbalances that in particular when the drum 4 is rotating rapidly with the laundry items 12 inserted, can be compensated for without the housing 2 moving. The tub 3 is sealed to the housing 2 and an in figure 1 not visible lockable door 18 connected. By opening the door 18, the interior space 6 is accessible for a user to bring in or take out laundry items 12.

figure 2 shows a schematic and sectioned side view of in figure 1 illustrated laundry care machine 1. In addition to the figure 1 shows figure 2 a second inlet 23 for process liquid, which does not lead to the first inlet 22 at a rear end of the tub 3, but to the cuff 19. Also in FIG figure 2 the door 20 is shown schematically, for the sake of clarity without hinges, latches, controls and transparent parts. The motor 13 for the drum 4 is also indicated schematically, to which motor 13 a transmission and bearing and sealing devices for the drum 4 may be assigned. Also shown are the items of laundry 12 resting on the perforated casing 7 of the drum 4. In figure 2 The axis of rotation 5 is also clearly visible.

1 also shows drivers 11 attached to the casing 7, through which the in 2 Laundry items 12 shown can be lifted when the drum 4 rotates, so that they perform a movement as a result of the rotation of the drum 4 . This movement can be rolling on the jacket 7, in which the items of laundry 12 roll in and out on the jacket 7, as is the case when the drum rotates rather slowly. The movement can also be falling if, with the drum 4 rotating somewhat faster, one of the items of laundry 12 is lifted a distance by a driver until it falls off the driver 11 and onto the jacket 7 . If the drum 4 rotates sufficiently quickly, as occurs during spinning, the items of laundry lie largely firmly against the casing 7 without falling off the latter. Intermediate forms between rolls and halyards and halyards and abutments are also possible, depending on the centrifugal forces caused by the rotation of the drum 4.

To determine a mechanical effect on items of laundry 12 during their care treatment in the laundry care machine 1 , a power sensor 14 detects a power value of the motor 13 which is evaluated to determine the mechanical effect on the items of laundry 12 . In particular, and in accordance with common practice, the motor 13 is an electric motor 13. The power sensor 14 is in 2 shown directly on the engine 13 to illustrate the functionality. In concrete terms, this does not have to be the case be the case. The power sensor 14 may be an electrical sensor inserted at any suitable location on the electrical leads to the motor 13 . It can also be contained as a sub-program in the program that controls the laundry care machine 1 and derive the performance value indirectly from other existing data.

The power value can include a value describing the power supplied to move the drum 4 or a plurality of such values. In the present case, the motor speed 27 of the motor 13 is determined as a measure of the rotational speed of the drum 4 and the motor current 28 is determined as a measure of the torque acting on the drum 4 . The power delivered by the motor 13 can be determined from these two values by multiplication.

In addition, a video image sensor 15 is arranged on the door 18, by means of which a video image 16 of the items of laundry 12 moving in the interior 6 is also recorded, with data on the movements of the items of laundry 12 being determined from the video image 16 and for determining the mechanical action on the items of laundry 12 be evaluated.

The mechanical action is determined while the drum 4 is rotated by the motor 13 at a substantially constant rotational speed, this rotational speed being intended for washing the items of laundry 12, ie identical to one. The data on the movements of the items of laundry 12 include locations, directions of movement and accelerations of the items of laundry 12. The recording of the power value and the recording of the video image 16 each take place over a period of time which corresponds to several complete rotations of the drum 4. Specifically, this period of time may correspond to about three complete revolutions of the drum 4, with the drum 4 being rotated at a substantially constant rotational speed. During this period of time, rows of individual values of the power value and partial images of the video image that are synchronous with one another are recorded and individual values and partial images that are synchronous with one another are correlated with one another, the contributions of each item of laundry 12 to the individual values being estimated.

To determine the mechanical action for each item of laundry 12, the movement is classified into one of the classes "rolling", "rolling-falling", "falling", "falling-fitting", "fitting" and "undefined", with the item of laundry 12 in the classes "rolling" and "rolling-falling" unrolls in its movement completely or partially over the shell 7, in the classes "rolling-falling" and "falling" falls partially or entirely from the shell 7 after transport upwards and in the Classes "falling-adjacent" and "adjacent" partly or rests completely against the jacket 7 and cannot be assigned to any of the other classes in the “undefined” class.

The mechanical action is determined using a machine learning process, with the machine learning process running using a support vector machine, logistic regression, decision trees or a trained neural network.

The method for determining the mechanical effect on items of laundry 12 is used in particular in a laundry treatment process, the rotational speed of the drum 4 being controlled at least at times as a function of the mechanical effect on the items of laundry 12 . This takes place in particular in such a way that the mechanical action corresponds to a predetermined target value. However, the method is not limited to use in an actual laundry treatment process and can also be used as part of the development of a laundry treatment process or a corresponding laundry care machine 1 . Use is also conceivable in a context in which textiles are examined for their suitability for items of laundry that are usually cared for in a household laundry care machine 1, or in which a laundry care process is designed for a specific textile material.

In the present case, the laundry care machine 1 is set up for washing and dehumidifying the items of laundry 12, and is therefore in particular designed as a washing machine 1. This does not rule out the application of the teachings presented above to a laundry care machine 1, which is additionally or exclusively designed for drying items of laundry 12.

figure 3 shows a representation of the classification process for the movements of the laundry items 12 and the resulting determination of the mechanical action on the laundry items 12. Accordingly, a signal of a video image 16 of the drum 4 rotating with the laundry items 12, a signal of the motor speed 27 - as a measure of the Rotational speed of the drum 4 - and a signal of the motor current 28 - as a measure of the torque acting on the drum 4 in each case - a measured value recording unit 29 in the control device 17 is supplied. From the measured value recording unit 29, these signals reach a pre-processing unit 30 in the control device 17, which subjects the supplied signals to pre-processing, the signals of the motor speed 27 and the motor current 28 to smoothing, for example, and the signal of the video image 16 to an analysis for those present in the drum 4 Laundry items 12 and their movement recognizable from the video image 16, and all signals and the information derived from them of a temporal correlation as described above.

Corresponding further processed signals finally reach an evaluation unit 31 in the control device 17, which as a result the six classifications 32 of the laundry items 12 with the classes "rolling", "rolling-falling", "falling", "falling-lying", "lying". and "undefined" returns. From these classifications, the mechanical effects on each item of laundry 12 can then be derived from a consideration of the corresponding trajectory (possibly described as a model and evaluated beforehand). This can be done by using the classes as coordinates of a correspondingly multidimensional matrix, which contains the values of the respective mechanical stresses as matrix elements. Instead of such a matrix, the mechanical action can be determined using a machine learning process, with the machine learning process running in particular using a support vector machine, logistic regression, decision trees or a trained neural network.

figure 4 shows an exemplary result of processing the signals of the motor speed 17, the motor current 18 and the video signal 16 and the resulting classification of the laundry items 12 for four different filling amounts of laundry items, the classification being represented by different shading of the data points. The classes shown are "rolling" in 4 ), "roll-fall"("roll-fall" in 4 ), "falling" in 4 ), "falling-lying"("roll-fallred" in 4 ) and "abutting"("rotating" in 4 ), where the class "rolling" in 4 does not appear - it would be located at the upper right edge of the figure. The units of the diagram are arbitrary and are determined by the specifically selected scaling of the data. The title of the diagram identifies the diagram as the result of a "Principal Component Analysis" (PCA), where "Principal Component 1" plotted on the abscissa is the motor speed 27 and "Principal Component 2" plotted on the ordinate is the motor current 28, in each case in any units specified by the data processing. On the abscissa, high engine speeds are on the left, low engine speeds on the right; on the ordinate, high motor currents below, low motor currents above. The differently shaded data points on the left rising edges belong to the class "on" - high motor current at high motor speed. From the respective left maximum to half the falling edge, data points of the class "falling-adjacent" appear, followed to the right by data points of the class ""falling" and - on the right rising edge - by data points of the class "rolling-falling". From the diagram it can be seen that the relationship between motor current and motor speed is not clear, but when the video data is used and the movements of individual items of laundry are evaluated, it becomes clear and allows appropriate conclusions to be drawn. In particular, locations within the drum 4 at which items of laundry 12 are located during the recording of the video data can be determined from a partial image of the video images, and a change in the determined locations can be achieved by correlating individual partial images, whereby the movements of the items of laundry 12 in relation to the location the direction of movement, the speed and/or the acceleration of the detected items of laundry 12 can be derived.

figure 5 finally shows the signal of the motor current 28 alone and thus proves that the motor current 28 has signatures that indicate the movement of the items of laundry 12 in the drum 4 and, due to their strong structuring, allow conclusions to be drawn about individual items of laundry 12 and their movements in the drum 4. It is noticeable in the motor current 28 when an item of laundry 12 rests on the casing 7 of the drum 4 and is being conveyed upwards, and when it falls off the drum 4 when it reaches a certain height, as can also be seen from the diagram in FIG figure 4 is recognizable. The conclusion about the movements of an individual item of laundry 12 from the motor current 28 alone - or from the motor speed 27 alone or the combination of motor speed 27 and motor current 28 - is difficult, if at all practicable. However, the combination of both performance values of the motor 13 with the video image 16 provides an assignment between structures in the course of the motor speed 27 and the motor current 28 and individual items of laundry 12 and thus allows unambiguous and clear statements about the mechanical influence on the items of laundry 12.

According to the invention, the movement of the items of laundry is precisely recorded, with essentially each individual item of laundry being observed and the mechanical action on this item of laundry being able to be determined. It is thus possible to evaluate a specified laundry care process with regard to the associated mechanical effect on the laundry items being cared for. This also makes it possible to optimize a given laundry care process, in particular by introducing fixed changes or by controlling as a function of the mechanical action continuously determined during the process.

Reference List

1. 1 laundry care machine, washing machine
2. 2 housing
3. 3 tubs
4. 4 drum
5. 5 axis of rotation
6. 6 interior
7. 7 coat
8. 8 forehead
9. 9 back panel
10. 10 gap
11. 11 drivers
12. 12 pieces of laundry
13. 13 engine
14. 14 power sensor
15. 15 video image sensor
16. 16 video frame
17. 17 controller
18. 18 door
19. 19 cuff
20. 20 inlet arrangement, flushing bowl
21. 21 Inlet assembly, inlet siphon
22. 22 Inlet assembly, first inlet
23. 23 Inlet assembly, second inlet
24. 24 outlet arrangement, outlet on tub
25. 25 outlet assembly, pump
26. 26 outlet assembly, outlet siphon
27. 27 engine speed
28. 28 motor current
29. 29 measurement recording unit
30. 30 pre-processing unit
31. 31 evaluation unit
32. 32 classifications

Claims (15)

Method for determining a mechanical effect on items of laundry (12) during their care treatment in a laundry care machine (1), which has a drum (4) with an interior space arranged therein and rotated about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation (5) by means of a motor (13). (6) in which the items of laundry (12) are accommodated, the drum (4) having an approximately cylindrical casing (7) on which at least one driver (11) for taking the items of laundry (12) along when the drum ( 4) is arranged, and in which method a power value (16, 17) of the motor (13) is recorded, which is evaluated to determine the mechanical action on the laundry items (12), characterized in that a video image (16) of the moving laundry items (12) in the interior (6) is detected and data on the movements of the laundry items (12) are determined from the video image (16) and evaluated to determine the mechanical action on the laundry items (12). Method according to Claim 1, in which the determination of the mechanical action is carried out while the drum (4) is rotated by the motor (13) at a substantially constant rotational speed. Method according to Claim 2, in which the rotational speed is determined for washing the laundry items (12). Method according to one of Claims 2 and 3, in which the data on the movements of the items of laundry (12) comprise locations, directions of movement and accelerations of the items of laundry (12). Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the recording of the power value and the recording of the video image (16) each take place over a period of time which corresponds to a plurality of complete rotations of the drum (4). A method according to claim 5, wherein the period of time corresponds to approximately three complete revolutions of the drum (4), the drum (4) being rotated at a substantially constant rotational speed. Method according to one of Claims 5 and 6, in which rows of individual values of the power value and partial images of the video image that are synchronous with one another are recorded over the period of time and in which synchronous individual values and partial images are correlated with one another, with the contributions of each item of laundry (12) to the individual values being estimated . Method according to Claim 7, in which, for determining the mechanical action for each item (12), the movement into one of the classes "rolling", "rolling-falling", "falling", "falling-lying", "lying" and "undefined " is classified, whereby the item of laundry (12) in the classes "rolling" and "rolling-falling" completely or partially rolls over the jacket (7) during its movement, in the classes "rolling-falling" and "falling" partially or completely falls off the jacket (7) after transport and rests partially or completely on the jacket (7) in the classes "falling-fitting" and "fitting" and none of the other classes can be assigned in the "undefined" class. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the mechanical action is determined using a machine learning process, the machine learning process running using a support vector machine, logistic regression, decision trees or a trained neural network. Method according to one of the preceding claims, which is used in a laundry treatment process, the rotational speed of the drum (4) being controlled at least at times as a function of the mechanical action on the laundry items (12). Method according to claim 10, in which the rotation speed is controlled in such a way that the mechanical action corresponds to a predetermined target value. Laundry care machine (1), comprising a tub (3) for receiving a process liquid, the drum (4) being arranged in the tub (3) and the casing (7) forming a gap (10) with the tub (3), a Inlet arrangement (20, 21, 22, 23) for admitting the process liquid into the tub (3), an outlet arrangement (24, 25, 26) for draining the process liquid from the tub (3), a power sensor associated with the motor (13). (14) for recording the power value, and a control device (17) to which the power value can be supplied and which is set up to determine the mechanical action from the power value, characterized in that the laundry care machine for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims is set up, wherein the laundry care machine further comprises a video image sensor (15) directed into the interior (6) for recording a video image (16), the control device (17) can be supplied with the video image (16) and the control device (17) is set up to to determine the mechanical action from the power value and the video image (16). Laundry care machine (1) according to one of Claims 12, in which the tub (3) is connected to the housing (2) via a movable sleeve (19) and can be closed by a door (18), the video image sensor (15) being in the door (18) is arranged. Laundry care machine (1) according to one of Claims 12 and 13, in which the motor (13) is an electric motor and in which the power sensor (14) is intended for measuring an electrical power consumed by the motor (13). Laundry care machine (1) according to one of Claims 12 to 14, which is set up for washing and dehumidifying the items of laundry (12), in particular a washing machine (1).

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