ES2179132T5 - METHOD FOR BALANCING THE LOAD IN A WASHER AND / OR CLOTHING AND MACHINE DRYER THAT APPLIES SUCH METHOD. - Google Patents

Abstract

A METHOD FOR THE BALANCING OF THE CLOTHING LOAD IN WASHING MACHINES AND / OR CLOTHING MACHINES OF THOSE THAT CONSIST OF A MOTOR (MO) TO GENERATE THE ROTATION OF THE DRUM CONTAINING THE COLADA, A CONTROL SYSTEM (SC, IS DESCRIBED) ) FOR SUCH ENGINE (MO) AND ELEMENTS (T) TO DETECT THE BALANCING CONDITIONS OF THE COLADA LOAD INSIDE THE DRUM, SUCH METHOD CONSISTS OF AN INITIAL ROTATION PHASE (B '') OF THE DRUM AT A FIRST CAPABLE SPEED TO PRODUCE A TRUE ADHESION OF THE CLOTHING TO THE DRUM WALLS, AND A DETECTION PHASE, DURING SUCH INITIAL PHASE (B '), OF THE CONDITIONS OF BALANCING OF LOAD, WHERE ONE OR MORE BALANCING ACTIONS (R, A " , B ") OF THE OWN LOAD IN THE EVENT THAT A CONDITION OF UNLOADING OF THE LOAD WILL BE DETECTED. PURSUANT TO THIS INVENTION, SUCH ACTION OR ACTIONS (R, A ", B") OF BALANCED OBTAINING MAINTAINING THE DRUM IN CONTINUOUS ROTATION, ALTERNATING PHASES (R) THAT REDUCE THE ROTATION SPEED AND PHASES (B ") THAT WORK TO THE FIRST SPEED ALREADY SAID.

Description

Method to balance the load in a washing machine and / or clothes dryer and machine that applies such method.

The present invention refers to a method to balance the load in a washer and / or dryer machine clothes.

Such a method is known from, by example of the document US-A-2,917,175. The present invention additionally it refers to a washing machine and / or dryer.

It is known that, to run a program of operation of washing machines and / or clothes dryers, there are one or more spin phases, i.e. drum rotation phases at a speed much higher than expected as normal during the true washing phases: for example in some types of machine the speed reached by the drum during the phases of centrifugation can be much higher than 1,000 revolutions per minute (rpm)

A critical element regarding these phases of spinning is the risk of a load of clothes unbalanced with garments placed irregularly inside the machine drum, that is, whether concentrated in some areas and without presence in other areas, so that during the high turn drum speed, this unbalanced load can indeed cause significant oscillations in the machine or even the risk of a mechanical breakdown

For this purpose, modern washing machines they are provided with control systems and special methods to Check if the load of the clothes is well distributed or balanced inside the drum, before executing a spin phase. In In case of a balanced load, the control system allows run the spin phase while in case of a load unbalanced the control system will eliminate the state of imbalance and will proceed to a new phase of distribution or so less will push back its amount to permissible limits for machine structure

However, the known systems for get a balanced load state present some problems.

In greater detail, and as you will see more clearly in the example described with reference to figure 1, the known systems are characterized by the fact that once a load imbalance detected, the machine drum is stops and begins a new phase, more or less complex, of distribution To balance the load. Normally, such a balancing phase is carried out by letting the drum first turn in one direction to one certain speed (for example 45 rpm in the direction of clockwise) and stop for a certain time, then repeat the rotation of the drum in the opposite direction (for example 45 rpm in counterclockwise) and stop again, and so on successively, for a certain number of times.

After having repeated these phases of balanced a certain number of times, the control system of the machine retries a new spin and checks the state of charge In case the state of persists imbalance, these phases have to be repeated.

Therefore, in practice, according to the current state of the art, to eliminate an imbalance of loading involves a series of phases that involve several intervals Stop and spin the machine drum while the imbalance load has not been removed and the engine control system can allow the execution of the spin phase.

However, the working method according to the known technology, it involves operating times quite long given the need to run a series of stop intervals and rotation of the machine drum. Such a problem is accentuated. whereas some specific types of garments (as per example absorbent textiles) make it difficult to get a load balancing, so several attempts are necessary repeated of balanced.

The document US-A-2,917,175 discloses a method for eliminate load imbalance in a washing machine clothes. After detecting an imbalance in the drum, it reduce the speed from a plaster speed to a speed at which the clothes themselves are distributed. Moment in the which speed increases again at the speed of plaster The increase in plaster speed, however, requires that redistribution of clothing be obtained.

It is the object of the present invention to resolve the problems mentioned above and, in particular, promote a operating method that ensures the balance of the load of clothes, in if necessary, in a much simpler and more reliable way than that required according to known technology.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method to balance the load of a machine clothes washer and / or dryer, as indicated in the characteristics of the appended claims.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be revealed in the following description and the attached drawings, which are provided by way of explanatory example but not limiting, in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of the steps of the distribution phase and load balancing of clothing according to known technology;

Figure 2 is a block diagram simplified part of the machine control circuit that uses the method according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a simplified diagram of the steps of the distribution phase and load balancing of clothing according to the present invention; Y

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of part of the logic control circuit of a washing machine and / or clothes dryer using the method according to the present invention.

The present invention and its comparison with the known technology will be described in more detail with reference to a laundry machine equipped with all the elements for its operation, not describing in detail those elements that are perfectly known to those in the matter.

In Figure 1, a simplified diagram shows The speed flow of the rotating drum of a clothes washer which works according to the known state of the art in its phases of clothing load distribution, imbalance control and elimination.

In that diagram, the abscissa axis represents time, while the ordinate axis represents the speed reached by the drum of the clothes washer during the various phases

According to the known state of the art, a first phase, indicated by A, is foreseen before starting the centrifuged, which leads to the engine and then to the drum of the clothes washer at a speed suitable for the satellization of the load, that is, to achieve substantial adhesion of the garments to the walls of the drum. This speed, called distribution speed is normally about 90 revolutions per minute.

Once this speed is reached, it is maintained during a certain period of time, as can be seen in the second phase indicated by B, during which the system of Machine control measures the degree of load balance.

This balance measurement can be performed, for example, during phase B, measuring the frequency of the signal from a speedometer dynamo that detects the speed of the engine.

If the load is balanced, that is, arranged regularly inside the drum, the engine control system maintain a distribution speed of 90 rpm for a period preset, which is longer than that of phase B, after which drum will be allowed to increase its speed until reaching the spin speed, which is indicated in the example of Figure 1 by the dashed line CE.

If a phase is detected during phase B imbalance, the engine control system will interrupt the current to the motor to cause the drum to stop. This action is graphically shown by phase C.

Once the drum has stopped (this condition is normally detected by the speedometer dynamo), a first interval of about 10 seconds, as indicated by D. After interval D, the control system authorizes the engine operation and takes it at a speed of around 45 rpm in the phase indicated by E. Then said speed is maintained for about 10 seconds (phase F), after which it will occur a new engine stop and drum rotation (phase G) and a new interval (phase H).

Following the second interval (phase H) the control system starts the engine again (phase I) to turn it counterclockwise E-F until the 45 rpm speed is reached and they remain for about 10 seconds (phase L). Coming up next for this phase L, there is a new stop (phase M) and a new interval (phase N), after which the phases can be repeated E-F-G.

Said start, stop and movement phases of the drum are intended to be able to obtain a distribution of garments inside the drum differently from the initial one, in order to eliminate a load imbalance. This occurs, practically, because these stoppages and motion investments they make the clothes fall to the bottom side of the drum as well as its proper "mix" in order to eventually eliminate The initial state of imbalance.

Following the aforementioned phases of load distribution (A-B) and phases of redistribution (C-N), the control system of the engine proceeds to a new distribution phase repeating both phases A and B. If during the new phase B a new one is detected imbalance, the control system will repeat the phases C-N

The operating cycle described above will go away. repeating until eliminating the load imbalance going through the C-N redistribution phases, and the control system of the engine allows maintenance of the distribution speed (90 rpm) for a predetermined period of time, at the end of which machine programmer will start the spin phase at high speed (CE).

It is evident, as already indicated at beginning of this description, which according to the known technology for balancing the load requires a certain number of intervals of complete and relevant stoppage of the drum, which implies times of quite long operation.

According to the example in Figure 1, it is clear that attempts to redistribute the load (of the first phase C to the subsequent phase A) may require a time of the order of a minute and a half.

If we also consider that, sometimes, the various distribution phases (A-B) and phases of redistribution (C-N) must be repeated several times, it is clear that the known state of the art does not seem to be especially effective

Figure 2 shows part of a diagram simplified block of the machine control circuit that uses the method according to the present invention. In this figure, MO indicates the motor of the clothes washer, which generates the rotation of the drum of the machine in a known way, with the help of straps and pulleys The acronym SC globally indicates a module or system Electronic digital for MO motor control. The acronym MP indicate an electronic microcontroller with an internal clock, indicated by CLOCK, with associated permanent memory media, indicated by ROM. In the example, said MP microcontroller is currently available in the digital SC module to control the MO engine operation.

The ROM has some programs of MO engine management coded according to the various phases provided by the machine's operating cycles, which can be selected by the user through control means suitable (for example, an electromechanical timer and / or keys selectors). The SC module, specifically through the MP microcontroller and the relevant ROM, manage the engine MO according to the signals received from said organs of control and other machine components, such as a pressure switch, some push buttons, a speedometer dynamo, etc.

The letter T indicates a device suitable for generate a signal representative of the speed of rotation reached by the drum and, therefore, by the MO motor during the machine operation In the example, device T consists of a speedometer dynamo, but it is obvious that they can use other similar devices to measure the speed of rotation of both the drum and the motor (for example magnetic reading type sensor).

According to the invention, permanent memory MP microcontroller ROM has its own program, which will be described below with reference to figure 4, to lead to carry out the method according to the invention.

In Figure 3, a simplified diagram shows The speed of rotation of the drum of a clothes washer which uses the method according to the present invention, during the phases of load distribution of clothing, its unbalanced and its elimination. Figure 3 also shows the time in the abscissa axis, while the ordinate axis represents the speed reached by the drum of the washing machine during the various operating phases

According to the method provided by the present invention, a distribution or satellite phase is granted for loading clothes before starting a spin phase.

Specifically, during said first phase indicated by A ', the machine motor is controlled to take the engine a satellite speed of the order of 90 rpm. One time reached said speed, it is maintained during a certain period of time in the phase indicated by B '. During said phase B ', the system Machine control measures the degree of load balancing. So, such operations are substantially similar to normal for the known state of the art, as described above with reference to figure 1.

If the load is balanced, the system Engine control will maintain the distribution speed (90 rpm) for a predetermined time and then allow the increased drum speed to reach the speed of centrifuged, as shown, by way of example figure 3, with the CE line.

On the contrary, if an imbalance is detected load, for example analyzing data from the dynamo speedometer T, the method according to the present invention provides a reduction in the speed of rotation of the drum from 90 rpm at a speed value that allows garments to lose their flashing, that is to say so that they separate from the walls of the Drum and fall to its center, so as not to leave its rotation. This phase speed reduction is indicated by the letter R in the figure 3. This speed value to unload the load without lowering the drum speed is substantially between 45 and 55 rpm

The drum speed reduction is get into practice simply by stopping the feeding of power to the MO motor of the clothes washer for a few seconds, until the speedometer dynamo T detects that the engine has reached the preset speed between 45 and 55 rpm, as indicated before.

Once this reduced speed has been reached, the SC motor control system MO powers the motor again to reach a speed increase at 90 rpm during the indicated phase by A '' in figure 3. This speed will be maintained substantially over a pre-established period of time in the phase indicated by B ''. According to the method of the present invention, you will notice that the phases of speed reduction (R), increase (phase A '') and distribution (phase B '') can be achieved with time global even less than 10 seconds.

Specifically, based on practical tests, it has been determined that such phases can be performed effectively in A time of about 8 seconds.

As stated before, the reduction of speed of rotation during the R phase, makes the garments detach from the walls of the drum to go to the center of it. However, a rapid increase in speed at 90 rpm (phase A '') prevents garments from accumulating on the lower side of the drum; in other words, before the garments accumulate in the bottom of the drum the spin force generated by the new speed increase at 90 rpm determines a new satellite the load, so that the rotation of the drum is not done back.

During phase B '', the control system Performs a new check of the degree of load balancing. Yes Now the load is balanced, the control system will maintain the speed at 90 rpm until the signal from the programmer or machine timer (not shown in the figure) indicate that the high speed centrifugation phase has started, while if the load is still unbalanced, the system SC control of the machine will carry out a new phase of reduction of speed at 45 rpm (phase R), a further increase in speed at 90 rpm (phase A '') and a new distribution phase (phase B '') to verify the degree of balance. This operating cycle is it will repeat as long as the load is not balanced in order to get a stable centrifugation.

Therefore, the difference of the method according to the present invention and the known state  of the technique, due to the fact that there is no unemployment during the drum rotation, or rotation intervals, or drum rotation in opposite direction, nor a continuous measurement of the condition of Balance.

From the above it is obvious that compared to the method according to the known state of the art, the same time used by the method according to the present invention allows a much higher number of balance attempts to the charge.

On the other hand, based on the same number of balancing attempts, the method according to the present invention allows the realization of the operating cycle in a while drastically lower compared to the known state of the technique.

This will be quite evident with a quick comparison between figures 1 and 3.

As stated before, according to the method of present invention, this is achieved using a microcontroller digital MP as a component of the SC control system properly Machine programming.

To this end, Figure 4 shows, by way of example, a possible block diagram of part of the circuit of motor control of a washing machine and / or clothes dryer that uses the method according to the present invention.

In said figure 4, the reference number 1 indicates the start-up block of the program, which passes the control to block 2.

Said block 2 determines the start-up of a gradual increase in engine speed at 90 rpm (phase A ' from figure 2), and then pass the control to block 3.

Said block 3 is a check block, which check the equilibrium conditions during the phase of distribution (phase B 'of figure 3).

If the load of clothes is balanced (exit YES), the control goes to block 4, which maintains the speed of drum rotation at 90 rpm. Then the control passes block 5, which is a test block that checks if the start signal has arrived of spin from the programmer or timer of the machine through block 6. If not (output NO), the control goes back to block 4, while yes (YES output), the control goes to block 7, which authorizes the realization of the high speed spin phase (phase EC').

Then the control goes to block 8, where The program will end.

Going back to block 3, in case an unbalanced load is detected (NO output), the control will pass to block 9.

This block controls the motor power, to reduce the speed of rotation of the drum of 90 rpm (phase R in Figure 3). Then the control goes to block 10.

Block 10 is a test block, verifying when the speed of rotation of the drum reaches the value of preset de-flashing (between 45 and 55 rpm), is say a speed that allows the detachment of garments of the walls of the drum, but without stopping the rotation of the drum. A once said reduced speed has been reached (output SI), the control passes back to block 2, which makes a gradual new increase in the speed up to 90 rpm (block 2 or phase A '' in figure 3) and a new load balancing test (block 3 or phase B '' in the figure 3).

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In the case of a balanced load, the control it will go to block 4, while the program proceeds as it has been described above, on the contrary, that if the load is unbalanced, the control will go to block 9 and repeat a new one phase of flashing (blocks 9 and 10) followed by an increase in speed (block 2), phases that will be repeated while the Load is unbalanced.

In practice it has been discovered that the method according to the present invention allows a very balanced effective garment inside the drum of the clothes washer in times dramatically less than the known technology described at the beginning of this description.

Also, it should be noted that the method according to the present invention it is directly and easily applicable to machines equipped with a switching motor of direct current like machines equipped with a motor asynchronous, without any substantial programming difference to The digital control system.

The characteristics and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the above description, mainly due to the fact that the proposed method -Characterized by the phases of non-stop or reverse rotation of the motor- carries out an almost optimal distribution of garments to ensure a subsequent spin phase.

It is also obvious to those who understand the matter that many changes can be made to the described method as an example.

For this purpose it should be stressed that the modes of detection of a steady state of the load of clothes do not form part of the present invention, that is, they can be of any type known.

Claims (8)

1. Method for balancing the load of garments in a washing machine and / or clothes dryer of the type comprising a motor (MO) to generate the rotation of a drum containing the clothes, a control system (SC) for said motor (MO) and means (T) for detecting the equilibrium conditions of the laundry load inside the drum, said method comprising an initial phase of rotation (B ') of the drum at a first speed suitable for producing a substantial adhesion of the garments to the walls of the drum, and a phase of detecting load balancing conditions, during said initial phase (B '), in which one or more balancing actions (R, A'',B'') of the load itself if a state of load imbalance is detected, obtaining said balancing actions (R, A '', B '') while the drum is kept in continuous rotation, characterized by the fact that each of said actions of equilibrium (R, A '', B '') comprises: - a first phase (R) of reduction of speed of rotation of the drum from said first speed (90 rpm) at a second speed previously established (45-55 rpm) suitable for making clothes leave  the walls of the drum and tend to fall towards the center of one's own drum, wherein said first speed is substantially of about 90 revolutions per minute and said second speed is substantially between 45 and 44 revolutions per minute; - upon reaching said second speed previously established, said control system (SC) carries out a second phase (A '') in which a new phase is carried out progressive increase in speed until said first speed, so that the speed of rotation of the drum returns to said second speed (45-55 rpm) at said first speed (90 rpm) before the clothes accumulate at the bottom of the drum; - a third phase (B '') to maintain said first speed (90 rpm) repeating said first sequentially, second and third phases until the clothes are balanced inside of the drum 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that during said third phase (B '') a new detection of the equilibrium conditions of the laundry load is carried out. 3. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that if a new load imbalance is detected during said third phase (B ''), the first, second and third phases are repeated. 4. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first, second and third phases are repeated sequentially until the load inside the drum is balanced, to then carry out a high speed spin phase (CE ') of clothing. 5. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first, second and third phases are carried out in a total time of about 10 seconds. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection of the equilibrium conditions of the load of clothes is obtained by analyzing the data provided by a speedometer dynamo (T). 7. Washing machine and / or clothes dryer comprising a drum containing the clothes and a motor (MO) to generate the rotation of said drum, a control system (SC) to control said motor (MO) and means (T ) to detect the equilibrium conditions of the laundry load inside the drum, so that said control system (SC) governs an initial phase of rotation (B ') of the drum at a first speed suitable for producing substantial adhesion of the garments to the walls of the drum, and a phase of detection of load balancing conditions, during said initial phase (B '), in which one or more balancing actions (R, A'',B'') are provided of the load itself if a state of load imbalance is detected, obtaining said balancing actions (R, A '', B '') while the drum is kept in continuous rotation, characterized by the fact that each of said actions of equilibrium (R, A '', B '') governed by the control system (SC) includes and: - a first phase (R) of reduction of speed of rotation of the drum from said first speed (90 rpm) at a second speed previously established (45-55 rpm) suitable for making clothes leave  the walls of the drum and store to fall towards the center of the own drum, wherein said first speed is substantially of about 90 revolutions per minute and said second speed is substantially between 45 and 55 revolutions per minute; - upon reaching said second speed previously established, said control system (SC) carries out  a second phase (A '') in which a new phase is carried out progressive increase in speed until said first speed, so that the speed of rotation of the drum returns from said second speed (45-55 rpm) at said first speed (90 rpm) before the clothes accumulate at the bottom of the drum; - a third phase (B '') to maintain said first speed (90 rpm) repeating said first sequentially, second and third phases until the clothes are balanced inside of the drum 8. Washing machine and / or clothes dryer according to claim 7, characterized in that the motor (M) is an actuation motor (M) of alternating current or asynchronous type switching, in the which, in particular, the control system (SC) of the motor (M) is of digital type with electronic microcontroller (MP).