FR2472047A1 - DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE OF AN AUTOMATIC WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE FOR THE HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF AN AUTOMATIC WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE. EACH PROBE OR GROUP OF PROBES 11-2, 21-2, 31-1, 31-2 IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INPUT OF ITS OWN COMPARATOR 1 TO 3, A TRANSITIONAL RESPONSE FROM THE OUTPUT SIGNAL AND THE OTHER INPUT OF WHICH RESPECTIVELY RECEIVES FIXED OR ADJUSTABLE COMPARATIVE SIZES 10, 20, 30 AND THE OUTPUTS OF COMPARATORS 1 TO 3 ARE CONNECTED THROUGH A MIXER STAGE 5 TO A CONTROL DEVICE 6, 61, 65 FOR HEATING APPLIANCES 62, 66.

Description

"Device for the control according to the humidity and the

  temperature of an automatic washing machine and

to dry the laundry."

  The present invention relates to a device for control as a function of humidity and temperature

  an automatic machine to wash and dry the equi-

  electric heating appliances, this control being carried out under the control of temperature and humidity probes installed in the washing and drying enclosure

  and / or in the duct evacuating the air from the drying device.

  Various solutions are known for the measurement of temperature or humidity in washing machines or clothes driers (German patent applications 20 37 383, 27 51 277). These known solutions have also been used individually when it came to equipping with appropriate control the combined automatic washing and drying machines, hereinafter referred to as washing machines.

drying by abbreviation.

  In addition to the principle, not yet generally adopted, of the measurement of the temperature by means of thermistors, it is known to measure the temperature of the washing liquor by means of bimetallic switches which, tested by the use,

  are mass produced and therefore inexpensive.

  Like other washing machines, other temperatures

  In other places inside the machine, it is customary to use other bimetallic switches. Occasionally, pyrometric probes of a different type are also used for this purpose. An order according to the humidity of the laundry to be dried has never been used in washing machines since with

  the current construction principles, the additional expenditure

  The burden of measuring the humidity of the laundry by means of measuring and controlling the humidity appeared excessive. Instead, one has always been satisfied with a timer control system which has the disadvantage of being able to provide a valid drying only in case of a composition and initial residual moisture determined laundry. at most the timer control system has been used in combination with a temperature measurement so that when the temperature rises to 650C or more, that is, when the residual moisture has decreased by 10% , the timer control system is started for the duration of a final drying phase. This control system is however also too imprecise for the different

  categories of linen, also requires too much

  use by the user to associate the duration of the final wash time with the nature of the laundry category, and

  is also relatively complicated and expensive.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which combines the known control principles so that it is possible to use the organs

  already in use so as not to increase

  the fear of manufacturers

  completely transform the washer-dryers already

  in series. Moreover, the device must allow

  to completely remove a timer control from the

drying process.

  This result is achieved according to the invention in that each probe or group of probes is associated with an input of its own transient response comparator of the output signal and whose other input receives respectively fixed or adjustable comparative quantities and that the comparator outputs are connected via a mixer stage to a device control device

of heating.

  For the realization of the control device according to

  the invention, the manufacturer, with a view to the measurement of

  inside the washing chamber, may resort to

  pyrometric probes already widely used with thermal

  as well as previously known probe electrodes. The

  pairing the program switches and the programs

  already existing at the entrances and exits of the

  control system according to the invention, represents a great

  simplification compared to the current state of the art.

  When designing modern home appliances, it

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  it is easy to manufacture the control device according to the invention optionally in the form of compound groups

  individual functional blocks, such as transistors, am-

  operational plifiers available on catalog and

  logues or constituted by the internal assembly of a portion of a microprocessor. In such a case, to measure the quantities

  "temperature, on the one hand, and" degree of humidity ", on the other hand,

  on the other hand, an individual probe can be

  the or a group of probes suitable for all values

  of a physical quantity. The output signals of comparisons

  This allows the operators to operate in a very simple way on the rest of the electrical equipment of the washer-dryer as explained

in the following example.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the control device according to the invention, for all

  switching process, controlled according to the temperature

  erature, from the washing machine and to automatic drying, a

  pyrometric probe and a switchable group of

  Adjustable paratives are associated with the inputs of one of the comparators. In this way, it is possible to reduce the importance of the means implemented for the

control according to the invention.

  An embodiment of the control device according to the invention comprises another comparator which, on the input side,

  is connected to a pyrometric probe measuring the temperature

  of the drying chamber during drying and to an organ

  fixed comparator and, on the output side, to a relay for a

  condenser cooler. Thanks to this additional comparator

  the control device according to the invention

  also comes for the connection of the refrigerant flow, if after the heating of the drying chamber, the temperature of the laundry is mounted high enough for the extraction of moisture.

  Moreover, this other comparator is suitable as a replacement

  placement for a final drying cycle controlled according to

  the time described at the beginning, by the fact that this other

  comparator, conjunctively combined, output side,

  of the comparator connected to the humidity sensor, is coupled

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  to an impulse control device of the drive motor.

  drum. In fact, during the duration of the final drying cycle ending the drying program and after drying down the temperature of the dryer at a determined low temperature, for example 400.degree. C., the drum drive motor is connected for short phases of

  impulse displacement for example 5 seconds each

  no, so that the cooled linen does not crease while remaining

maintained in a given position.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pulse control device is a clock. Such a clock is generally adjustable in;

  with regard to pulse lengths - impulse

  sions. By connecting the pulse control device to

  an acoustic signal generator, it is possible to warn

  fires the user that the drying program is finished.

  The invention will be better understood using the description -_-

  Embodiment of embodiments taken as examples, but not limiting, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing of which Figure 1 shows a partially illustrated control device.

  in the form of a synoptic diagram and Figure 2 a

laughter of the latter.

  The control device of FIG.

  comparators 1 to 4. At their respective two inputs are

  plicated electrical values to be compared, for example electrical current or voltage values dependent on resistors. Comparators may be designed to

  to issue an output signal each time in case of concordance

  signals at their entrances. They can, however, also be tuned to specific differences between their input signals. At the upper input of comparator 1,

  resistance values associated with determined temperatures

  washing liquor are applied by

  switches 10-1 to 10-4 depending on the position they occupy.

  pent. The lower input of the comparator is connected to a voltage divider circuit 11 constituted by a resistor

  11-1 and a thermistor 11-2 serving as a pyrometer

cudgel.

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  The input side of comparator 2 is connected identically to comparator 1. At its upper input, only

  however applied only two different resistance values

  rents which, in the case of an open selector 20-1 correspond for example to the drying temperature of 600C but which, in the case of a switch 20-1 closed, correspond to a temperature

  drying of for example 1000C. The lower entrance of the com-

  2 is also connected to a voltage divider circuit 21 constituted by a fixed resistor 21-1 and a

  thermistor 21-2. For comparator 2 to be rendered inactive

  tif during washing, parallel to the resistor 21-1 is mounted a switch 21-3, closed during washing, a programmer not shown, this switch opening when

  of drying, thus making the dividing circuit active again.

voltage source 21.

  At comparator 3 at its upper entrance is

  also connected a combination of switching resistors

  who, in the case of an open 30-1 contact, applies a value

  resistance corresponding to the degree of drying "good to

  pass "and, in case of switch 30-1 closed, applies a resistance value corresponding to the degree of drying" good to tidy up. "The lower input of the comparator 3 is connected to a converter 31 whose inputs are connected to two electrodes 31-1 and 31-2 arranged in the drying chamber and measuring the humidity of the laundry on the basis of the measurement of the conductance, the converter 31 signals at its output the increasing values of the resistance measured

  that the residual humility of the laundry to be dried decreases.

  At the upper input of the comparator 4 is introduced a fixed value of the resistor 40, while its input

  lower is connected in the same way as the comparator

  2 to the voltage divider circuit 21 thereof. As

  this voltage divider circuit signals a resistance value

  depending on the temperature, which is also suitable for comparator 4, it is possible to suppress a circuit

divider for the comparator 4.

  The output signals of comparators 1 to 4 have a

  transitional response at the time of the introduction of the

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  side entry. The outputs of the comparators 1 to 3 are applied to a mixer 5 which always switches on the relay 6 when one of the comparators 1 to 3 delivers an output signal. The output signal of the comparator 4 switches a relay 7 and is further applied to an input of a connective circuit 8. The other input of the latter is connected to the output of the comparator 3. Downstream of the circuit

  conjunctive 8 is mounted a clock 9 which, in case of exceeding

  voltage threshold pulses relay 12.

  During the washing phase, only the comparator 1 with its pyrometric probe 11-2 is active. The comparator 3, via its electrodes 31-1 and 31-2, due to the high water level in the machine during washing, indicates "very wet laundry" that is to say a value of resistance

  very low and the comparator 2 is rendered inactive by the

  control wire by means of a switch 21-3. In addition

  their, during the washing phase, the switch 20-l is closed and, consequently, a temperature of 1000C is programmed

  in the comparator. An output signal at the comparator level

rator 2 is therefore impossible.

  By an appropriate combination of closed switches and

  open 10-1 to 10-4, preselect the temperature of the

  the comparator 1, which, when this temperature is reached, receives a resistance value

  corresponding to its lower entrance and, through

  re of the mixer 5, delivers an output signal to the relay 6.

  The latter, by means of its switch 6-1 and through

  relay 61 and its switch 61-1 disengages

  cooks the heater 62 for washing. In addition

  their, the unrepresented programmer executes a step via the work contact of the switch 6-1. Its clutch electromagnet 63 indeed receives tension

  through the switch of the indicator of ni-

  caliber 64, of the relay switch 6-1 work contact and of its own switch 63-1. It thus leaves the position called thermal stop in which the control device stops until the desired temperature of the laundry

washing is reached.

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  During consecutive cycles. "rinsing" and "spinning" of the program, all the parts of the command described are programmed so as not to intervene in the unfolding

from the program.

  During the "drying" cycle of the program, the control unit, via its switch 21-3 makes

  active comparator 2. Using the selector 20-1, the

  paratridge 2 is preprogrammed at a temperature (for example

  600C or 1000C) adapted to the type of laundry to be dried. The comparison

  1, by means of the combination of switches 10-1 to 10-4 is set to a temperature that can not be

  at the level of the pyrometric probe 11-2 during the

  chage. This ensures that it will not deliver any output signal during drying. These are not

  now that the outputs of comparator 2 and

  paratridge 3 which act on the mixer 5, so that by the selector 30-1, the comparator 3 can be programmed for the desired final degree of humidity of the laundry. As long as neither the temperature nor the humidity selected are reached,

  the relay 6 remains in the non-excited position shown.

  Its working contact 6-2 via the program switch 63-2 closed during drying leads the voltage to the relay 65. Its switch 65-1 remains closed in the meantime

  and maintains heating 66 for drying

  ge. During washing, this drying heater is reliably separated from the mains by the program switch 63-2 in the open position. The laundry heating system 62 remains safely connected during drying

  WHEREAS the water level indicator 64 can not

gir.

  As soon as either the comparator 2 finds, by means of its pyrometric probe 21-2, the temperature set at the selector 20-1, or the comparator 3, in accordance with the position of the switch 30-1, detects via its electrodes 31-1 and 31-2 the desired degree of drying,

  one of the output signals of these two comparators provoked

  that, through the mixer 5, the excitation of the relay 6, which, by its switch 6-2 stops the heating

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  66. During the drying program, it is pos-

  possible by means of a reply. on or off adjustment of the comparator 2, to maintain the desired drying temperature with sufficient accuracy until the humidity probe via its comparator 3 causes

  the definitive cessation of heating 66.

  At the attainment of a predetermined temperature, for

  the drying air already contains a significant humidity can for example be at 45 0, the other comparator 4 through the relay 7 and its working contact 7-1 switches on the electromagnet 71 d an electrovalve 72 (not shown) located in the water supply to a condenser, for example water-cooled. Simultaneously, by means of another switch 7-2 of this relay, the washing motor 13 can be started so that the

  linen is frequently stirred and regularly dried. Com-

  parator 4 has a relatively wide hysteresis which is

  because its output signal only decreases again when one goes below a temperature

  significantly lower than that which must exist for

  clipping the output signal. This lower temperature

  can be for example 401C or less. As a result,

  paratridge 4 does not resume its position until after a rather long cooling phase during which the drying heater 66 is stopped and during which there is no longer any significant drying effect. Only then the refrigerant for the condenser and the engine of the

washing is stopped.

  During this rather long cooling phase,

  may provide for a program of protection against crushing

  which, during the simultaneous appearance of the output signals of the comparators 3 and 4, ensures the operation of the clock 9 via the connective circuit 8. These pulse output signals engage the relay 12 at the rate of, for example 5 seconds of operation for

  stop seconds. The washing motor 13 - the interrup-

  Programmer 63-3, when drying is of course

  not in the represented position - and the generator of

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  may be activated at this rate through

  12-1 and 12-2 switches.

  The embodiment represented alternatively on the

  Figure 2 relates to the control device of comparisons

  1, 2 and 4 in Figure 1. For all the temperatures to be measured, these can be replaced by a

  common comparator 124 whose output is connected to the

  The upper input of the comparator may be

  grammar in advance for one of the four temperatures of the

  drying or drying by means of an assembly

  with judiciously calculated comparative values of four

  sistances 240-1 to 240-4 that can be made active indi-

  each time in pairs or by interrupts.

  240-5 and 240-6 that can be associated with a selector

or a programmer.

  The lower input is applied to a fixed resistor 241-3 which, in combination with a 241-1 pyrometer, forms a voltage divider 241 which can be made inactive

  by jumper by switch 241-2.

  In addition to this voltage divider 241, it is possible to provide a second voltage divider of the same type for a second temperature range which, in a manner not shown, can alternatively be connected by a switch to the first one.

voltage divider.

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Claims (6)

CLAIMS V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   1.- Device for the control according to the humidity   temperature and temperature of an automatic washing machine and   to dry laundry equipped with electric heaters   This control is carried out under the control of temperature and humidity probes installed in the washing and drying chamber and / or in the duct evacuating the air from the drying device, characterized in that each   probe or group of probes (11-2, 21-2, 31-1, 31-2) is associated with   assigned to an input of its own comparator (1 to 3) response   transient of the output signal and whose other input   fixed or recurring comparative magnitudes, respectively.   glables (10, 20, 30) and that comparator outputs   (1 to 3) are connected via a metal floor   change (5) to a control device (6, 61, 65) for heating apparatus (62, 66).   2. Control device according to claim 1,   characterized by the fact that for all the communication processes   tation, controlled according to the temperature, of the machine   not to wash and dry automatically, a pyrometric probe   (241-1) and a switchable group (240) of comparable magnitudes   adjustable ranges (240-1 to 240-4) are associated with the inputs from one of the comparabers (124).   3. Control device according to claim 1 or   2, characterized by the fact that another comparator is   (4) which, on the input side, is connected to a pyrometer   (21-2) measuring the temperature of the   drying and at a fixed comparator (40) and, at the outlet side, at a relay (7) for a cooler of capacitor.   4. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the other comparator (4) conjunctively combined, on the output side, at the output of the comparator (3) connected to the humidity sensor (31-1, 31-2) is coupled to a   impulse control device (9) of the drive motor drum (13).   5. Control device according to claim 4, 2472047.   characterized by the fact that the control device pulses is a clock (9).   6. Control device according to Claim 4 or, characterized in that the pulse control device (9) is further connected to a signal generator. acoustic signals (14).