ES2595603T3 - Method of washing clothes for a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of washing clothes for a washing machine, comprising a soaking phase (3), in which the clothes absorb water, and a stirring phase (5), in which the mechanical treatment of the clothes is carried out, characterized in that at least a partial water drain is performed after the soaking phase (3) and before the end of the stirring phase (5), a variable amount of water being removed by means of said partial drain depending on the selected wash program and of the load and type of clothes introduced in the washing machine.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

“Method of washing clothes for a washing machine”

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention relates to the washing of clothes by mechanical means, and more particularly, to a method of washing clothes with partial emptying of water prior to the agitation phase.

PREVIOUS STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Methods of washing clothes for a washing machine are well known in the state of the art which comprise, according to the selected washing program, a soaking phase, in which the clothes absorb water that has previously entered the drum of the washing machine and a stirring phase in which a mechanical treatment of the clothes is carried out.

The Korean patent application KR20080040401 discloses a control method of a washing machine of the type described above, in which a drain valve is activated, a measurement of the water level in the washer tank is performed, it is determined whether the measured level it is less than a certain preset level, and the drain valve is disconnected after a certain time. An emptying is carried out prior to carrying out the washing method establishing a preset water level.

The Korean patent application KR20070117912 discloses a washing machine, and an operation method for it, which performs a water drain if the level measurement is outside of established limits, all before carrying out the washing method.

The Korean patent application KR20050041499 discloses a method of control of the washing process, in which an amount of water is supplied in the drum after a set time, then the water is extracted, and then a prewash and wash is performed . It is a washing program shorter than a normal one, designed to remove dirt, dirt or sand, to then carry out the normal washing program.

Japanese patent application JP4285592 discloses a control method for an automatic washing machine, which uses a water level detection before the washing process, so that when the level exceeds a certain value, it drains water to a value preset, starting the washing method when said preset value is reached.

US patent application US2008104770 discloses a method of washing control, in which an intermittent supply of water is made, detecting the variation of the level of water in the tank that is produced by said supply process, and discharging water from the tank at the moment when the water level remains constant or decreases. This is an operation performed before the washing method that allows the siphon phenomenon to be detected. It is therefore a safety added to the water inlet for the washing method.

US Patent US3071432 discloses a method for washing machines, in which, after loading the clothes, the drum is rotated, water is added continuously and the excess liquid is removed from the drum, while said drum is being continuously heated. drum during a first phase, cutting off the water supply when a certain temperature is reached. Being a continuous water supply, it must be periodically emptied partially to avoid flooding, while the water is heating.

EXHIBITION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a method of washing clothes for a washing machine, comprising a soaking phase, in which the clothes absorb water, and a stirring phase, in which the mechanical treatment of the clothes.

In the method of the invention a partial emptying of water is carried out after the soaking phase and before the end of the stirring phase, in which a variable amount of water is extracted depending on the selected washing program and the load and type of clothes introduced in the washing machine. By partial emptying it must be

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understand both a continuous emptying and an emptying carried out intermittently. By means of said partial emptying, a reduction and adjustment of the amount of water remaining in the washing machine is achieved.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent in view of the figures and the detailed description of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the method, usually used, of washing clothes for a washing machine.

Fig. 2. shows the method of washing clothes for a washing machine, with partial emptying of water prior to the completion of the agitation phase according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows the method of washing clothes for a washing machine, with partial emptying of water prior to the completion of the agitation phase according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows the method of washing clothes for a washing machine, with partial emptying of water prior to the completion of the agitation phase according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED EXHIBITION OF THE INVENTION

A method of washing clothes for a commonly used washing machine is shown in Fig. 1. The method comprises, according to the selected washing program, the phases explained below.

A dosing phase of detergent products 1, which can be added once at the beginning of the method or partially until the water heating phase 4.

A water inlet phase 2, which can be partially carried out until the included water heating phase 4.

A soaking phase 3, in which the clothes absorb the water entering the drum of the washing machine; In this phase, mechanical agitation of the load of clothes is produced by means of the washing machine motor so that the soaking is correct. The clothes absorb the water and the level of this falls in the drum; The washing machine has at least one means of detecting the water level, usually a pressure sensor, and with it it knows the level of water in the drum. The washing machine has several washing programs, which respond to an algorithm where the phases of the washing method are defined with their different characteristics; when the water reaches a lower level detected by the pressure sensor and after a predetermined time in which the clothes have absorbed the water, the selected washing program defines a new water inlet until reaching a predetermined water level in the program and depending on the type and load of the clothes introduced in the washing machine; This process is repeated a number of times defined in the selected washing program. When this phase has been completed, the washing machine knows the amount of water that has entered the washing machine, the approximate amount of water absorbed and therefore the approximate amount of water remaining, and with these data and the characteristics of the selected washing program Know the type and load of clothes found in the washing machine.

A water heating phase 4, which may or may not exist according to the selected washing program, in which the water is heated to a defined temperature. Depending on the washing program selected and the type and load of clothes defined, and if there has not been enough time in the soaking phase, there may be more water inflows in this phase.

A stirring phase 5, in which a mechanical treatment of the clothes is performed by rotating the drum of the washing machine alternately in one direction and in another by means of the motor, for a defined time according to the established washing program.

An emptying phase 6, in which the washing water is drained.

A rinse phase 7, in which some water inlets are produced to rinse the clothes and some short centrifuges are performed.

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And a spin phase 8, in which the main and longer spin is performed to finish extracting the water from the clothes.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a method of washing clothes for a washing machine with partial emptying of water prior to the completion of the stirring phase 5 according to a first embodiment. In said method, after the water heating phase 4 and before the completion of the stirring phase 5 the selected washing program defines the realization of a partial water drain 9, in which an amount is removed from the washing vessel of variable water depending on the type and load of clothes introduced in the washing machine. The selected washing program has defined after the soaking phase 3 the type and load of clothes that are in the washing machine, and with this data and a predetermined water level necessary for the agitation phase 5, defines the amount of water that goes To be emptied With this partial emptying 9, an amount of detergent product and an amount of water that has been previously heated is also removed from the washing vessel, but a reduction and greater adjustment of the amount of water remaining in the washer after partial emptying 9 is achieved. and necessary for the stirring phase 5.

In Fig. 3 a method of washing clothes is shown for a washing machine with partial water drainage prior to the completion of the stirring phase 5 according to a second embodiment. In said method, after the soaking phase 3 and before the end of the water heating phase 4 or before the start of the water heating phase 4, the selected washing program defines the realization of a partial water drain 10, in which a variable amount of water is removed from the washing vessel depending on the type and load of clothes introduced into the washing machine. In this embodiment it is possible not to heat as much water in the water heating phase 4 and the dosing phase of detergent products can be carried out in three different ways: in a phase 1 during the water inlet phase 2, in a phase 11 during the soaking phase 3 and in a phase 12 after the partial emptying 10 and before the water heating phase 4, in the latter case avoiding removing a quantity of detergent product with the partial emptying 10 from the washing vessel.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a method of washing clothes for a washing machine with partial emptying of water prior to the completion of the stirring phase 5 according to a third embodiment. In said method the selected washing program defines the realization of the partial emptying of water in two stages, in which a variable amount of water is extracted from the washing container depending on the type and load of clothes introduced into the washing machine; the first partial emptying 13 is carried out after the soaking phase 3 and before the end of the water heating phase 4 or before the start of said phase, and the second partial emptying 14 is performed after the water heating phase 4 and before the completion of the stirring phase 5. In this embodiment it is possible not to heat as much water in the water heating phase 4 after partial emptying 13, and on the other hand a reduction and greater adjustment of the quantity is achieved of water remaining in the washing machine for the stirring phase 5 after the partial emptying 14. The dosing phase of detergent products can be carried out in three different ways: in a phase 1 during the water inlet phase 2, in a phase 11 during the soaking phase 3 and in a phase 12 after the partial emptying 13 and before the water heating phase 4, in the latter case avoiding removing a quantity of detergent product with the partial emptying 13 from the washing vessel.

In any of the embodiments of the invention, by partially draining water prior to the completion of the stirring phase 5 it is achieved that in said phase there is less water and therefore less load to be moved by the washing machine motor . In this way, the motor temperature is not increased or smaller motors can be used and therefore of lower cost and with a reduction in energy consumption. Also, and without changing the motor, the washing efficiency can be improved, since it is possible to have more agitation time for the clothes (motor On) for the same total time of the agitation phase 5, or the agitation time can be reduced of clothing for the same efficiency and thus reduce energy consumption.

A greater adjustment of the amount of water remaining in the washing machine is also achieved for the agitation phase 5 after the different partial drains, because after the soaking phase 3 the amount of water that has entered the washer is known, the amount approximate of absorbed water and therefore the approximate amount of water remaining, and with these data and the characteristics of the selected washing program, the type and load of clothes found in the washing machine are known. On the contrary, without the partial emptying, the imprecision is greater, since the selected washing program works in the soaking phase 3 with signals of the means of detection of the water level not very precise due to the movements of the drum, with approximate predetermined times by the volume of the clothes in the drum that hinder the absorption of water, and all this leads to an extension of the time necessary to precisely reach the amount of water adjusted for the agitation phase 5.

Claims (11)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. - Method of washing clothes for a washing machine, comprising a soaking phase (3), in which the clothes absorb water, and a stirring phase (5), in which the mechanical treatment of the clothes is carried out , characterized in that at least a partial water drain is carried out after the soaking phase (3) and before the end of the stirring phase (5), a variable amount of water being extracted by means of said partial drain depending on the program of Selected washing and loading and type of clothing introduced in the washing machine. 2. - Method according to claim 1, wherein a partial emptying of water is performed before the start of the stirring phase (5). 3. - Method according to claims 1 or 2, which comprises a water heating phase (4) prior to the stirring phase (5) and wherein the partial water emptying is carried out after the water heating phase (4 ). 4. - Method according to claims 1 or 2, comprising a water heating phase (4) prior to the stirring phase (5) and wherein the partial water emptying is carried out before the end of the heating phase of water (4). 5. - Method according to claim 4, wherein the partial emptying of water is carried out before the start of the water heating phase (4). 6. - Method according to claims 4 or 5, wherein a partial water drainage is also carried out after the water heating phase (4). 7. - Method according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the dosage of detergent products is carried out in the soaking phase (3). 8. - Method according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the dosage of detergent products is carried out after partial emptying prior to the water heating phase (4). 9. - Method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the water extracted by partial emptying is discharged out of the washing machine. 10. - Method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the water extracted by partial emptying is discharged into an auxiliary container for later use thereof. 11. - Washing machine characterized in that it comprises control means suitable for implementing a method according to any of the preceding claims.