FR2550558A1 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND / OR ADJUSTING A WASHING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION IS THE PROCESS OF A CONTROL AND OR ADJUSTMENT OF A WASHING MACHINE, IN WHICH, IN PARTICULAR, THE QUANTITY OF WATER INTRODUCED DEPENDS ON THE LAUNDRY TO BE WASHED, WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: A.IN THE LOW LEVELS AREA, A LEVEL DETECTOR IS PLACED TO MEASURE THE LEVEL REACHED BY THE WATER INTRODUCED; B. FROM THE QUANTITY OF WATER INITIALLY INTRODUCED NECESSARY TO REACH THE LEVEL OF THE DETECTOR AND FROM THE QUANTITY OF WATER RECOVERED BY EVACUATION BY PUMPING, THE QUANTITY OF LIQUID ABSORBED IS DETERMINED; C. DEPENDING ON THE QUANTITY OF LIQUID ABSORBED, AT LEAST PART OF THE WASHING PROGRAM IS DETERMINED.

Description

The present invention relates to a control method and / or

  adjustment of a washing machine, in which, in particular, the amount of water introduced depends

washing clothes.

  The invention relates in particular to a method applied in domestic washing machines A method of this type is described by the patent DE-05 29 21 911. In the control system described therein, a water meter allows to determine the quantity of water which is necessary to soak the laundry to be washed This quantity of water constitutes what may be called the absorbed liquid The determination of the absorbed liquid is carried out while the water is level, called washing level, which must be maintained according to the chosen program, during washing of the linen. The different washing levels are determined by level detectors, for example by switches

float.

  One of the drawbacks of such a process is that regardless of the amount of laundry to be washed, the same level of washing is always used. As a result, when the amount of linen is reduced, that is to say when the washing machine is loaded below its capacity, there is at least

  excessive consumption of water and heating energy.

  The object of the invention is to improve a process of this type so that the washing program is established.

  taking into account the amount of liquid absorbed.

  This object is achieved, according to the invention, by the combination of the following characteristics: a) in the zone of the low levels, a level detector is placed to determine the level reached by the introduced water b) knowing the quantity of water introduced initially until the level sensor level is reached and the amount of water recovered by evacuation, by pumping, the amount of liquid absorbed is determined; (c) at least part of the washing program is

  then established according to the amount of liquid absorbed.

  One of the advantages of the invention lies in the

  only one level detector is needed.

  This results in a significant reduction in the number of built-in elements which, in a washing machine, can

  give rise to operational incidents.

  The invention is based on the fact that the washing machines commonly used at present include at least one microprocessor which, from the washing program indicated, provides control and / or adjustment of the

  washing machine A microprocessor of this type makes it possible advantageously to perform calculation operations.

  The invention is described below in a manner

  more detailed by means of an exemplary embodiment.

  In a washing machine having a washing drum, a water level sensor is installed in the area of a low wash level, so that the corresponding water level is above the washing point. lower of the washing drum To reach for the first time the level of washing determined by the level sensor, it is necessary to introduce a quantity of water which is the sum of a dummy value corresponding to the filling of the empty washing machine. , and the amount of liquid absorbed As the value -factice can be considered as a known constant defining the washing machine, it is possible, by a simple calculation of difference, to calculate, at the first introduction of water, the amount of liquid

  From this calculated amount of absorbed liquid, it is possible to deduce the essential features of the washing program, for example the quantity of detergent required and / or the necessary amount of cooling and / or rinse water and the number of rinsing A determination of the amount of detergent required is possible.

  The process according to the invention makes it possible in particular to use a washing machine under conditions that are advantageous for the environment, since the consumption of water and energy and the quantity of wastewater (laundry water) depend only on the amount of liquid absorbed and, therefore, the only amount of laundry to be washed. An improvement of the invention consists in that, for the establishment of a washing program, the amount of liquid absorbed is first determined, for example by the process just described. operation is evaluated by the level detector, which operates in a continuous manner, for example using a microprocessor which controls and / or

  also regulates the course of the washing program.

  After recording the amount of liquid absorbed and / or the washing program, the quantities of water and / or the water levels required for each part of the program are calculated for example from values determined experimentally and stored in the microprocessor 20 s By adding water if necessary or by pumping out the excess water, it is possible to adjust the amount of calculated water and / or the calculated water level and, therefore, fact, to achieve optimal washing conditions

  in this way avoids any waste of water, energy and laundry.

  The use of a level detector operating in a continuous manner (water level indicator) makes it possible to determine under the conditions indicated above the quantity of liquid absorbed and to control and, if necessary, to correct the washing levels required for a washing program and / or a part of the washing program, for example by adding water or pumping out excess water Determining the washing level makes it possible to ensure an advantageous an optimal washing sequence.

A continuously operating level sensor includes, for example, a continuously operating pressure gauge which determines the pressure of the water in the wash drum. The measured pressure corresponds to a wash level. type contains for example a membrane which can move according to the pressure and whose displacements modify the inductance of a coil.

Claims (4)

  A method of controlling and / or adjusting a washing machine, in which, in particular, the amount of water introduced depends on the laundry to be washed, characterized by the combination of the following characteristics: a) in the low level zone a level detector measuring the level reached by the introduced water, lb) is set from the amount of water initially introduced necessary to reach the detector level and from the amount of water recovered by evacuation by pumping, the amount of liquid absorbed is determined, c) depending on the amount of liquid absorbed,   at least part of the washing program is determined.   2 A method of controlling and / or adjusting a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the quantity of laundry required is determined by   depending on the amount of liquid absorbed.   3 Control method and / or adjustment of a washing machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, charac20 terized in that the amount of water introduced necessary   at the execution of the washing program and / or the number of washing program parts are determined according to   the amount of liquid absorbed.   4 A method of controlling and / or adjusting a machine for washing according to claim 1, characterized in that depending on the amount of liquid absorbed and the   In the program, several washing levels are determined, which correspond to different parts of the washing program, and that subsequently, in one part of the washing program, the corresponding washing level is set.   A method of controlling and / or adjusting a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that for determining the amount of liquid absorbed and / or for adjusting the washing level, a level detector is operated. in a continuous way. 6 A method of controlling and / or adjusting a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a microprocessor is used at least to determine the amount of liquid absorbed and / or to adjust the level of washing.