JP2006505368A - Fabric article processing apparatus provided with safety device and controller - Google Patents

Abstract

A fabric article treating device for use with a fabric article drying appliance. The fabric article treating device dispenses a benefit composition into a chamber so as to provide benefits to fabric articles contained within the fabric article drying appliance. The treating device includes a means of heating the benefit composition.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to fabric article drying implements (including but not limited to clothing drying equipment), and the “beneficial composition” is placed in a chamber (eg, a movable or stationary drum) of the fabric article drying implement. It is directed to a device of the type that dispenses the beneficial composition through a nozzle that leads as drops or particles. The present invention is further disclosed as a system for spraying droplets or particles that provide benefits to a fabric article in a fabric article drying apparatus, the system comprising one or more safety mechanisms and / or the system. Includes a beneficial control concept that improves the effectiveness of the beneficial composition dispensed through the nozzle. Any door or lid “open” detection that can stop the spraying of the beneficial composition and can also disconnect power to a high voltage power source that may be included when the system uses electrostatic spray droplets A vessel is provided. In embodiments using a dryer, it can be determined whether the dryer's moving drum is actually moving, so the beneficial composition is sprayed by simply pressing the start or ON-OFF button (possibly inadvertently). An optional motion detector is provided that can be prevented. Another optional feature is a split spray cycle after the first spray event begins and ends, during which some elapsed time during which the beneficial composition is not dispensed, followed by at least a second spray event. Such second (or third) spray events may be, if desired, such as a relative humidity threshold within the fabric article drying apparatus, a temperature threshold within the fabric article drying apparatus, a cool down cycle of the fabric article drying apparatus, etc. It is possible to control to “wait” for a predetermined state. If desired, a second (or further) spraying event can be performed at different charging voltages for electrostatic spraying, or the spraying event can add a fragrance or other beneficial compound to the interior of the fabric article drying device. Can do. The present invention provides a closure structure (eg, door, lid, hatch, etc.) and / or outer surface of a fabric article drying implement that operates without interaction with a standard control system for the fabric article drying implement and / or Or it can be provided as a stand-alone (or “separate”) unit that may be attached to a domestic surface (eg, wall or worktop). The present invention can also be provided as part of an integrated dryer control system, in which the features of the present invention are fully integrated into the rest of the controller for the dryer, or perhaps the present invention. A conventional or “standard” dryer control system can also be provided as a partially integrated control system with an interface cable or connector in communication with the control device of the present invention. The control system of the present invention includes an optional feature that can vary the power provided to the pump or motor to compensate for the lower voltage as the battery voltage begins to run short in the stand-alone unit. The control system of the present invention also includes an optional function that can change the charging voltage applied to the electrostatic sprayer to compensate for the lower voltage as the battery voltage begins to run short in the stand-alone unit. Good.

  Fabric article dryers such as clothes dryers have been around for decades. Also, methods for treating fabric articles in such dryers are known in the patent art, but these methods have only recently been developed. One conventional automatic clothes dryer that incorporates a spray dispenser that dispenses liquid into the dryer drum is allegedly described in US Pat. No. 4,207,683.

  The patent art includes spray devices used in clothes dryers, which have generally been controlled by an integrated controller that also controls the entire dryer. Such a unit can advantageously be constructed with a novel control concept, and even with input signals provided by certain types of sensors that have not been used before. Thus, it can be attached to a closure structure of a fabric article drying apparatus such as a dryer, can include a specific safety mechanism such as a door sensor or motion sensor, provide a split spray cycle, or battery voltage Specific operational functions can be included, such as by controlling the pump to operate at a substantially constant output volume when it begins to run short, or by changing the electrostatic nozzle voltage for different spray events, It would be advantageous to provide a stand-alone spray device. Such features can also be used in fabric article drying implement control systems that are generally combined as a single control circuit.

  In one embodiment of the invention, a stand-alone (or separate) dispensing device comprising a control unit, wherein the dispensing nozzle is mounted inside the clothes dryer while the control unit is mounted externally to the dryer. Is presented. The control unit may be attached to any outer surface of the fabric article drying apparatus, non-limiting examples of which include a door or lid or hatch, a side wall, a top wall, or combinations thereof. Further, the dispensing nozzle is in communication with the interior of the fabric article drying apparatus and may be mounted on any inner surface of the fabric article drying apparatus, such as a door or lid or hatch, drum, interior Includes attachment through a door, such as at the back wall of the chamber. The separate dispensing device of the present invention can optionally be mounted as a unit in a housing or closure in a fabric article drying apparatus. Furthermore, the dispensing device of the present invention can optionally be combined with the controller of the fabric article drying implement (eg clothes dryer) itself, or the dispensing device can be connected through an electrical connector or via a communication port. It can also be partially combined with the dryer controller in such a way that it is connected to the dryer controller.

  Another advantage of the present invention is that an additional door sensor that can terminate the operation of the sprayer when the door is opened, and further, before the nozzle is dispensed with the beneficial composition of interest, It is to provide a spray device for use in a fabric article drying implement that exhibits a specific safety mechanism such as a motion sensor that can detect whether the drum is actually moving.

  Another advantage of the present invention is that the improved method allows for a split spray interval or by changing the voltage of the electrostatic nozzle or by increasing the pump output as the battery voltage begins to run low. To provide a controller that works with a fabric article drying implement that effectively extends the battery life of a stand-alone unit.

  Additional advantages and other novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. obtain.

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, according to one aspect of the invention,
A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the chamber;
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with the chamber;
A dispensing device that forcibly moves the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the chamber;
A closure structure sensor;
A control circuit for initiating spraying of the beneficial composition;
With
The fabric article used in a fabric article drying apparatus that prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the closure structure sensor indicates that the closure structure is not in the closed position. A processing system is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention,
A fabric article drying implement having a movable chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the movable chamber moved during operation;
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with the movable chamber;
A dispensing device that forces the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source to the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the movable chamber;
A motion sensor;
A control circuit for initiating spraying of the beneficial composition;
With
The fabric article processing system used in a fabric article drying apparatus, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the motion sensor indicates that the movable chamber is not operating. Is provided.

According to yet another aspect of the invention,
A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the chamber;
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle communicating with the chamber;
A dispensing device that forces the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the chamber;
A control circuit;
With
The control circuit is
(A) spraying the beneficial composition through the nozzle when the spray event begins; and (b) the first spray such that the first spray interval of the spray event and the second spray interval of the spray event are separated in time. Start an interval and a second spray interval;
Configured as
A fabric article processing system for use in a fabric article drying apparatus is provided.

According to yet another aspect of the invention,
A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the movable chamber;
A beneficial composition reservoir;
A nozzle communicating with the chamber;
A pump apparatus for forcing the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition reservoir toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the chamber;
An electric motor for operating the pump device;
Battery,
A voltage detection circuit for measuring the output voltage generated by the battery;
A control circuit;
With
The control circuit
(A) when the spray event begins, spray the beneficial composition through the nozzle;
(B) generating a pulse width modulated variable output signal that controls the electric motor; and (c) increasing the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated variable output signal as the output voltage generated by the battery decreases. Thus, even when the battery is partially discharged and cannot maintain its rated output voltage, the pump device provides a substantially constant amount of the beneficial composition to the nozzle.
A fabric article processing system for use in a fabric article drying apparatus configured as described above is provided.

According to a further aspect of the invention,
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with a source of beneficial composition;
A dispensing device that forces the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition;
At least one safety sensor;
A control circuit for initiating spraying of the beneficial composition;
A fabric article processing apparatus is provided that prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the control circuit indicates that the at least one safety sensor indicates that it is in a predetermined state.

  Yet another advantage of the present invention is that, from the following description and drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described and shown in one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in all obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

(Definition)
As used herein, the phrase “fabric article processing system” refers to a fabric article dryer, non-limiting examples of which include a conventional clothes dryer and / or variations thereof. Also, the fabric article processing system includes a fabric article processing apparatus, which may be in a separate relationship with the fabric article drying apparatus and / or combined with the fabric article drying apparatus. It may be. Further, the fabric article processing apparatus may be combined with an easily replaceable portion of the fabric article drying apparatus, a non-limiting example of which includes a drying apparatus closure structure.

  As used herein, “fabric article” (or “fabric”) means any article that is customarily washed with conventional laundry or dry cleaning methods. This term includes, but is not limited to, articles of fabric, including clothing, linen products, curtains, jewelry, leather products, floor coverings, sheets, towels, rags, canvas, polymer structures, etc. Is included. The term also encompasses other items made entirely or partially of fabric material, such as handbags, furniture covers, waterproof fabrics, shoes, and the like.

  As used herein, the phrase “critical moisture content” relates to the moisture content of the air in the clothing drying apparatus, the moisture content of one or more fabric articles, and combinations thereof.

  The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are as in the “Brief description of the drawings”.

  Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate the same elements throughout the views.

  Referring now to the embodiment of FIG. 1, an “independent” controller and dispenser unit (ie, as a self-contained device), generally designated by the reference numeral 10, has two main enclosures (or housings) 20. And 50. In this embodiment, the enclosure 20 serves as an “inner housing” disposed within the fabric article drying implement, and the enclosure 50 serves as an “outer housing” disposed outside the fabric article drying implement. . Enclosure 50 may be mounted on the outer surface of the door of the fabric article drying apparatus, but instead may be mounted on any outer surface, such as non-limiting examples of such outer surfaces include fabric article drying. Included are side walls that include walls away from the appliance or other domestic structures, top walls, outer surfaces of top lids, and the like. Further, the enclosure 20 may be mounted on any inner surface of the fabric article drying device, examples of such inner surfaces include, but are not limited to, the inner surface of the door, the fabric article drying device. Drum, rear wall, inner surface of the upper lid, and the like.

  Enclosure 50 may be permanently attached to the outer surface, or preferably removably attached to the outer surface. Similarly, the enclosure 20 may be permanently attached to the inner surface or may be removably attached to the inner surface. One such installation is shown in FIG. 8, in which the door of the drying apparatus is represented generally by the reference numeral 15.

  For example, when mounted on the interior surface of a door, the enclosure 20 is constructed to have a “permanently” mounted appearance, without actually being built as part of a fabric article drying implement, It may appear to be “built into” the door of the dryer unit (or other type of fabric article dryer). On the other hand, the enclosure 20 is probably more loose along the door or the inner surface of the door, perhaps just like that of the embodiments 10 depicted in FIGS. It may be attached. As used herein, the term “door” refers to a movable closure structure that allows access to the interior volume of a person's dryer apparatus, and virtually any physical that allows such access. It will be understood that it may be in the form. The door “closure structure” can be a lid on the top surface of the dryer device, or some form of hatch or the like.

  It will be appreciated that the present invention can be readily used in other types of fabric “treatment” devices and is not limited to garment “dryers”. In the context of this patent document, the term “dryer” or “drying device” or “fabric article drying apparatus” may or may not perform a true drying function, but literally does not attempt to dry the fabric itself. Includes devices that may be involved in fabric processing. As mentioned above, the term “dryer” or “drying device” or “fabric article drying device” may include “dry cleaning” methods or devices, which literally do not involve a drying step. May be. Also, as used herein, the term “fabric article drying apparatus” refers to any fabric treatment device that uses moving air directed onto one or more fabric articles, non-limiting examples of which include: Includes clothes dryers and variations thereof. Such devices include, for example, residential and laundromats, hotels, and / or both home and commercial drying units used in industrial environments.

  In addition to the foregoing, note that some drying utensils include a drying chamber (or “drum”) that does not literally move or rotate while the drying utensil is operating in a drying cycle. Should. Some such dryers use moving air that passes through the drying chamber and the chamber does not move during the drying cycle. One such dryer has a door or other type of access cover that allows a person to put the clothes to be dried into the chamber. Often, a person “hangs” clothing on some type of rod above the drying chamber. After that is done, the door (or access cover) is closed and the dryer can begin its drying function. While spraying cycles can be performed in such units, certain fabric items receive very high concentrations of beneficial composition and other fabric items receive little (or no) beneficial composition. Care should be taken to ensure that the beneficial composition is well dispersed within the drying chamber.

  The processing device 10 may be grounded through contact with the grounding component of the fabric article drying apparatus, such as by springs, patches, magnets, screws, arc corona discharge, or other attachment means, and / or through the dissipation of residual charge. Should be noted. One non-limiting method of dissipating charge is by using an ionization mechanism, such as a set of metal wires that extend far from the source. Often, fabric article dryers such as clothes dryers have an enamelled surface. One grounding method is to ground to the enameled surface of the fabric article drying implement, using pins that penetrate the grounded non-conductive enamel paint. Another method of grounding the non-conductive surface of the fabric article drying apparatus involves the use of a thin metal plate disposed between the fabric article drying apparatus and the fabric article processing device that serves to provide a capacitive discharge. The typical thickness of such a plate is from about 5 microns to about 5000 microns.

  In FIG. 1, a discharge nozzle 24 and a “door sensor” 22 can be seen on the inner housing 20, which also includes a beneficial composition holding reservoir 26 that is within the inner volume of the inner housing 20. It is. The reservoir 26 may be used to hold a beneficial composition. The discharge nozzle 24 can act as a fluid spray nozzle using pressurized spray or in conjunction with any high voltage power supply (not shown in FIG. 1) that can function as an electrostatic nozzle. One suitable example of a fluid spray nozzle is a pressure swirl atomizing nozzle made as Model Number DU-3813 by Seaquist Dispensing, Cary, Illinois. The beneficial composition can include a fluid substance such as a liquid or gaseous compound, or can include a solid compound in the form of particles such as a powder. The reservoir 26 can be of essentially any size and shape, for example, can take the form of a pouch or cartridge, or in situations where the beneficial composition includes drinking water, the reservoir is merely a domestic water supply. Is probably possible.

  The inner housing 20 and the outer housing 50 are generally electrically connected (although not always). In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a flat cable 40 (sometimes also referred to as a “ribbon cable”) passes between the two housings 20 and 50, and the fabric article drying appliance door 15 (see, eg, FIG. 8). ) And the lower surface of the door 15 is lowered over the top of the door 15. As described above, the housings 20 and 50 may be attached to a surface other than the door 15 of the fabric article drying apparatus. The housing 50 may be attached to any outer surface including a wall surface in the home.

  FIG. 2 shows the same fabric article processing apparatus 10 from the opposite angle, and the outer housing 50 is provided with an ON-OFF switch at 56. The flat cable 40 can also be seen in FIG. 2, and the door mounting strap 21 can be seen along the surface of the inner housing 20 that can be seen in FIG. The end of the attachment strap can also be seen in FIG. Certainly, other arrangements for attaching the inner housing 20 to the dryer door 15 (or other inner surface) can be arranged without departing from the principles of the present invention.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, the fabric article processing apparatus 10 is shown so that the reservoir 26 appears as an internal volume of the inner housing 20. In the outer housing 50, in addition to a set of batteries 52, a printed circuit board with electronic components at 54 can be seen. The electronic components of one embodiment are described in further detail below. It will be understood that any power source can be used with the present invention, including standard household line voltage or even solar energy. A battery may be used when it is desirable to make the device 10 easily portable, but any suitable power adapter may be provided to use an AC power source with electronic components on the PC board 54. Appropriate DC voltage (s) to be converted to appropriate DC voltage (s) or DC power source (including battery or solar panel) to be used in electronic components on PC board 54 Can be converted to

  Referring now to FIG. 4, several other hardware devices are shown with respect to the inner housing 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the discharge nozzle 24 acts as an electrostatic nozzle and is therefore coupled to the high voltage power supply 28 using a conductor not shown in this figure. A quick disconnect switch 34 is included for safety purposes so that the high voltage power supply 28 can be turned off instantaneously if necessary. In FIG. 4, the pump 30 and the corresponding electric motor 32 can be seen. Regardless of whether the discharge nozzle 24 is producing only a pressurized spray or an electrostatic spray using a high voltage power supply 28, some type of pumping device is used.

  US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 418,595, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, entitled “Fabric Article Treating Method and Apparatus” (filed Apr. 17, 2003) is a discharge nozzle. A method of treating a fabric article is described using a charged composition dispensed through.

  FIG. 5 provides a block diagram of several electrical and mechanical components included in a fabric article processing apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a high voltage power supply 28 is provided in the inner housing 20 that is used to charge the fluid dispensed through the discharge nozzle 24, which is an electrostatic nozzle system. Inner housing 20 uses a typical body or enclosure to house the devices required in the drying appliance, and such components are generally relatively high during the drying appliance processing cycle. It will be appreciated that it is exposed to temperature. Therefore, more sensitive electronic components are generally (although not always) mounted at different locations, such as within the outer housing 50.

  The flat cable 40 carries certain command signals and power to the inner housing 20 and also receives electrical signals from sensors mounted in the inner housing 20 and returns those sensor signals back to the outer housing 50. You may tell. The power control signal proceeds according to the wiring 70, passes through the quick disconnect switch 34, and reaches the high voltage power source 28. This signal may include a constant DC voltage, a constant AC voltage, a variable DC voltage, a variable AC voltage, or some type of pulse voltage, depending on the type of control method selected by the designer of fabric article processing apparatus 10. it can.

  In one embodiment, the signal at 70 is a variable DC voltage, and as this voltage increases, a conductor 39 (eg, a wire) attached to electrode 38 that carries a high voltage to nozzle 24 or to reservoir 26 as it increases. As a result, the magnitude of the output voltage of the high-voltage power supply 28 also increases. The voltage applied to electrode 38 is then transferred to the beneficial composition. Instead of the variable output voltage power supply 28 of the exemplary embodiment, a constant output voltage DC high voltage power supply can optionally be used.

  Once the beneficial composition is charged in the reservoir 26, it travels through the tube or passage 42 to the inlet of the pump 30, and then is pressurized and passes through the outlet of the pump to another tube (or passage) 44. To the discharge nozzle 24. When used in the present invention, the actual details of the type of piping used, the type of pump 30 and the type of electric motor 32 that drives the pump are easily configured for almost all types of pressure and flow requirements. can do. Also, the voltage and current requirements of the electric motor 32 to provide the desired pressure and flow rate at the outlet of the pump 30 can be easily configured for use with the present invention. Virtually any type of pump and electric motor combination can be used in a wide variety of forms to create useful devices that fall within the teachings of the present invention, or as described below, stand alone A pump can be used (ie, without an associated electric motor).

  Some types of pumps, such as peristaltic pumps, which act on a continuous tube, extend through the inlet opening of the pump and then through the discharge opening of the pump are separate to be connected to them. Note that no input and output lines or tubes are required. This arrangement is particularly useful for use with electrostatically charged fluids or particles that are pumped toward the discharge nozzle 24 because the tubing can electrically insulate the pump from the charged beneficial composition. is there. It should also be noted that alternative pump devices such as spring-operated pump mechanisms can be used if desired. A non-limiting example of a suitable peristaltic pump is a 10/30 peristaltic pump readily obtained from Thomas Industries, Louisville, Kentucky.

  The type of control signal used to control the electric motor 32 can vary depending on the design requirements of the apparatus 10, and such signal travels along the conductor 72 via the flat cable 40. The motor 32 is controlled. If the motor 32 is a DC variable speed motor, a variable “stable” DC voltage can be applied, and the greater the magnitude of the voltage, the greater the rotational speed of the motor. In one embodiment, the electrical signal traveling along the conductor 72 can be a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal controlled by a microprocessor or microcontroller. Needless to say, such a pulse width modulated signal can also be controlled by discrete logic including analog electronic components.

  The fabric article processing apparatus 10 can be enhanced using specific sensors, examples of such sensors include, but are not limited to, a door (or lid) sensor 22, a motion sensor 36, A humidity sensor 46 and / or a temperature sensor 48 are included. One of the door / lid sensors 22 can be an optocoupler or an optical input sensor, for example an optoelectronic device such as a phototransistor or a photodiode. As the drying appliance door / lid is opened, the door sensor 22 changes state and outputs different voltage or current levels along the conductor 82 from the door sensor 22 back to the controller in the outer housing 50. This can be used as a safety device for instantaneously interrupting the discharge spray coming out of the nozzle 24. Such a door sensor 22 provides a comprehensive “conventional” control of the drying appliance with a unique door sensor that causes the control system of FIG. 5 to normally stop the rotating drum of the dryer, for example when the door is opened. Even when combined with the system, it can be used. In this case, the door sensor 22 can act as a spare (or secondary) door sensor for the “original” sensor inside the dryer that stops the drum. One example that can be used as a door / lid sensor is an NPN phototransistor, part number PNA1801L, manufactured by Panasonic, Osaka, Japan.

  An alternative configuration for providing a “door” sensor is to use a pressure sensitive conductor in the flat cable 40, the electrical characteristics of the pressure sensitive conductor being in a first state with the door open, It changes between the second state in which the door is closed. This type of circuit can basically act in the same way as a strain gauge that changes with changes in contact pressure, with a low voltage bias current being passed through the pressure sensitive conductor and by the control circuit of the processing device 10. An output signal to be detected can be provided. Such a pressure sensitive door sensor in cable 40 can eliminate the need for the photosensitive sensor described in the previous section, or may be used to complete the operation of the aforementioned photosensitive sensor.

  Another type of sensor that can be used by the processing apparatus 10 of the present invention is a motion sensor 36 that may be able to detect whether a fabric article drying implement is actually in use. This mechanism is advantageous in the case of “stand-alone” processing devices that operate separately from the control of the fabric article drying implement, non-limiting examples include those depicted in FIGS. For example, if a person attempts to activate the ON-OFF switch 56 of the processing apparatus 10 but the fabric article drying implement itself is not in use, it is preferable to stop the nozzle 24 from releasing the beneficial composition. There is. With motion sensor 36, particularly in the case of a clothes dryer having a movable drum for the drying chamber, processing device 10 may be able to determine whether the fabric article drying implement is actually in operation. Such motion sensor 36 can output an electrical signal along a conductor 80 that provides a signal to a controller mounted in the outer housing 50.

  An example of a motion sensor is a vibration and motion detection switch available as model number CW1600-3 manufactured by ASSEMtech Europe Ltd. of Clifton, NJ. Another type of motion sensor that may be used in the present invention uses a light source to direct (infrared) light at the surface, depending on the intensity and / or frequency of the returning light. Relative motion can be detected. Such sensors can measure the actual rotational speed if the information is desired.

  Yet another example of a motion sensor is to detect sound waves, such as a microphone, to determine if the dryer's rotating drum is moving. When the dryer is not in operation, the ambient sound is at the first level (decibel), and when the movable drum of the dryer is being moved, the overall sound rises to the second level. A microphone (or some other type of audible sound sensor) can detect these sounds and output an electrical signal representing the original sound. This electrical signal (eg, following the conduction path 80 of FIG. 5) can be directed to the system controller where the electrical signal is analyzed for audible sound levels (eg, in decibels) and possibly further its frequency components. Also analyzed in terms of. In a typical installation used with the present invention, the electrical signal is greater than the ambient sound level when the movable drum is not moving, but the overall sound level (drum rotation) when the movable drum is moving. It is compared with a predetermined threshold value that is smaller than (added sound).

  Since there should be a fairly wide range between “sound level during operation” and “sound level during non-operation”, the system designer can select the threshold with confidence. However, an adjustable threshold can be provided if the dryer is likely to be installed in an environment that can be associated with abnormally noisy ambient conditions, such as in a commercial laundromat. The threshold detector that makes the determination regarding the current sound level can include a separate voltage comparison circuit, if desired, or it can pass the electrical signal on path 80 through an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter. Can be changed to binary. After the signal has been converted to a numerical value, the microcontroller 60 can perform any suitable signal analysis in software, if desired. This can include both frequency and amplitude signal analysis if necessary or desired, but is more powerful (ie, “faster” or An A / D converter with higher resolution may be required.

  Another circuit that can be applied to the audible signal on path 80 is a frequency filter. For example, a high-pass filter or a low-pass filter can be included to remove a frequency range that is essentially negligible for the purpose of determining whether the dryer drum is moving. Such filters are usually inexpensive and may contain few components. One advantage of a frequency filter is that it can be placed “upstream” of processing components, including A / D converters, which would otherwise adversely affect the decisions made by the threshold comparator. The ability to eliminate certain noise or other unwanted audio frequency elements.

  It should be noted that the audible frequency that is to be detected by the motion sensor 36 (eg, in the form of a microphone) does not necessarily have to be in the frequency range that is audible to humans. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “audible frequency” includes ultrasound (ie, a higher frequency than humans can recognize) and / or very low frequency sound waves (ie, lower frequencies than humans can recognize). Good.

  In addition to the use of the aforementioned “sound sensor” (such as a microphone), an audio sensor can also be used to detect different types of movement within the fabric article drying apparatus. As previously mentioned, not all fabric article drying implements include a movable chamber such as a rotating drum. Some fabric article drying utensils simply point toward their “target” (eg clothing), without any other type of mechanical movement, except for blowers or fans that drive air (sometimes warm or hot). Just blow the air. The audible sound sensor can detect such air movement, or perhaps noise from a blower or fan. Furthermore, the air flow switch can also detect such air movement. Thus, as used in this patent document, the term “motion detector” includes such a fabric article drying implement that operates when the operation of the non-kinetic fabric article drying implement is accompanied by only air movement. An airflow switch and / or a microphone (such as) that can be detected.

  In the case of a fabric article dryer having a movable drum, such as a conventional dryer, the motion sensor 36 should be discharged through the nozzle 24 as long as the motion sensor 36 cannot detect the actual motion of the dryer drum. It provides the safety benefit of not actually spraying the composition. This allows a child or somewhat inadvertent adult to spray by first pressing the “start” switch (or ON-OFF switch 56) of the stand-alone unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, so that only by pressing that switch. Drops can be prevented from being ejected by the nozzle 24.

  Of course, if the control system for the processing apparatus 10 is combined with the rest of the “conventional” integrated control circuit mounted on the fabric article drying implement itself (or the fabric article drying implement is in the drying chamber). Motion sensor may not be required at all. Such a combined fabric article drying utensil control system will necessarily recognize whether the fabric article drying utensil is operating. However, motion sensors may still be desirable as a safety reserve device in such a combined control system.

  If the motion sensor 36 detects sound rather than mechanical movement, it can more quickly determine whether a fabric article drying implement, such as a dryer drum, has decelerated or stopped after it has already started operation. It may be possible to determine. This is because the “on-time” of the dryer is set much shorter (intentionally or accidentally) by a human user and the spray time of the nozzle 24 is actually longer than the operating time of the dryer. This can be useful in situations where long durations can be set. Without any type of motion sensor, the dryer control circuit (especially in the case of a stand-alone spray system) continues to spray the beneficial composition even if the dryer drum stops or begins to slow down. There is a tendency. Any suitable motion sensor can be used to prevent continued spraying, but the audible sound sensor can be used to decelerate the dryer drum, and the mechanical motion detector can Sometimes it is possible to recognize a change before it can be detected.

  Another sensor that can be used with the fabric article processing apparatus 10 of the present invention is a humidity sensor 46, which can be used to control the amount of spray droplets emitted by the nozzle 24, and In addition, appropriate environmental conditions can be determined during the operating cycle in which the spray event should occur. In addition, the humidity sensor may be used to maintain a defined humidity by controlling the dispensing of the beneficial composition so that optimum soot removal and / or other benefits are achieved. This is described in more detail below, but it is sufficient to say that a wide variety of types of humidity sensors can be used in conjunction with the present invention, such humidity sensors include those from Freeport, Illinois. Variable conductivity sensors such as the sensor manufactured by Honeywell as model number HIH-3610-001 are included, but any of the HIH-3610 series may be used.

  The humidity sensor 46 provides an output signal along the conductor 84 that returns to the controller of the outer housing 50. If the humidity sensor 46 is simply a variable conductivity (or variable resistance) device, an output signal (as current or voltage) that can be input on the conductor 84 to a controller (eg, an electronic component on the PC board 54—see FIG. 3). Some type of interface circuit is required to provide some bias current or bias voltage to generate.

  A further sensor that may be useful in the processing apparatus 10 of the present invention is a temperature sensor 48, such as one that outputs an analog signal along a conductor 86 back to the controller in the outer housing 50. (It should be noted that some temperature sensors have a serial bus for transmitting digital output signals rather than outputting analog voltages.) The temperature sensor 48 is a control mechanism for many of the processing devices 10. The internal temperature of the drying device is used, especially if the “last” spraying event of the beneficial composition in the reservoir 26 occurs during the “cool-down” cycle of the drying device. Thus, it is possible to determine an appropriate environmental condition for a specific spray event to occur. This will be described in more detail below. In addition, the temperature sensor 48 can be used as an indicator that the drying device is operating correctly, and if the drying device is not warmed to a predetermined minimum temperature, the heating element (or burner) functions correctly. It may not be, and in that situation it may be better not to spray the beneficial composition.

  The main components of the outer housing 50 typically include an electronic component 54 and a power source 52. For example, if the power supply 52 includes four single batteries connected in series, a +6 volt DC voltage is provided to a set of DC power supplies, generally represented by reference numeral 58. The schematics provided in FIGS. 6A-6C and FIG. 7 show these power supplies 58 in more detail, but for discussion purposes only, but the control circuitry within outer housing 50 has more than one. Is estimated to be required. One of the DC power supply voltages provides energy for the high voltage power supply 28 via a conductor 70 that passes through the flat cable 40. Microcontroller 60 is provided with another output voltage, which requires a +3.3 volt DC power supply in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 62 is used and a device (part number AD5301) provided by Analog Devices, Norwood, Massachusetts. ) Requires a +5 volt DC power supply. All of these power sources are provided by a “set” of DC power sources 58.

  Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6C, a component that can be used to control the processing apparatus is a microcontroller 60. A preferred microcontroller 60 is manufactured as part number PIC16LF876-04 / P by Microchip in Chandler, Arizona, but it goes without saying that other microcontrollers made by different manufacturers can be easily Can be used. Microcontroller 60 includes onboard random access memory (RAM), onboard FLASH memory including electrically programmable non-volatile storage elements, and onboard input / output lines for analog and digital signals. included. The microcontroller 60 may also be used with a crystal clock oscillator, but if desired, an RC circuit can be used instead as a clock circuit. The clock circuit provides the timing clock pulses necessary to operate the microcontroller 60. The PIC16LF876 microcontroller also has a serial port that can be connected to any programmer interface using an RS-232 communication link.

  Without departing from the principles of the present invention, the microcontroller 60 can be turned into virtually any type of commercially available microprocessor or microcontroller circuit with or without onboard RAM, ROM, or digital and analog I / O. It will be understood that it can also be done. Further, a sequential processor is not necessarily required to control the processing unit 10, but instead a parallel processor architecture can be used, or a logical state machine architecture can be used. Further, the microcontroller 60 can be combined with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that can include many other logic elements that can be used for various functions, such functions being processed by a consumer device. It is optional depending on the 10 model numbers. To change the model number feature, the manufacturer simply programs the ASIC (or microcontroller onboard ROM) according to the special parameters of that particular model, using the same hardware for each unit. That's fine.

  Discrete digital logic instead of any type of microprocessor or microcontroller unit to control timing events and make decisions based on the input levels of the various sensors on which the processing unit 10 is provided. It will be appreciated that an analog control circuit can be used, or even an analog control circuit can be used with a voltage comparator and an analog timer.

  6A-6C also include an optional reset switch denoted SW1. Such a reset switch may not be desirable for consumer devices. The ON-OFF switch 56 is connected to one of the I / O inputs to the microcontroller 60 through an interface. The microcontroller is provided with a number of other inputs including the door sensor 22, which is depicted in FIGS. 6A-6C as an optical sensor that provides a signal along the conductor 82. The motion sensor 36 outputs a signal along a conduction path 80 to the microcontroller 60. Other inputs not depicted on FIGS. 6A-6C can include analog inputs for temperature and humidity sensors, respectively.

  Microcontroller 60 also controls specific outputs, including pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, along conductors 72 that drive transistor Q3, which transistor Q3 drives that signal from motor 32. Convert to higher voltage and higher current. The other digital output from microcontroller 60 flows through a voltage shift circuit for transistors Q4 and Q5 that controls the DAC 62 by shifting the signal from a logic level of 3.3 volts to a logic level of +5 volts. Depending on the state of these signals, the output of the DAC 62 becomes an analog voltage along the conduction path 70 that controls the magnitude of the output voltage of the high voltage DC power supply, as described above. As also noted above, this DAC 62 may not be necessary for all production units, especially if it is determined that a constant DC output voltage is preferred as supplied by the high voltage DC power supply 28 (see FIG. 7). A system designer can determine this.

  The microcontroller 60 also outputs two control signals to a visual display comprising two LEDs of two different colors. In the example of this embodiment, the LEDs used are green and red. The output signal along the conduction path 74 drives the solid state transistor Q1, which lights the green LED as desired. Another output signal along conduction path 76 drives solid state transistor Q2, which provides the current to drive the red LED. Both the red and green LEDs are part of a single two-color device, generally designated by reference numeral 64. When desired, green light is displayed to the user or red light is displayed. It is also possible to supply energy to both LEDs simultaneously, which produces a yellow color that can be recognized by a human user.

  As a non-limiting example of how the two-color LED 64 can be used, a stable green color can represent an “ON” signal for the fabric article processing apparatus 10. If the motion sensor 36 is aware of movement in the dryer that causes sufficient vibration to actuate the motion sensor 36 itself, for example, green light can be flashed. This may be a normal usage state of the processing apparatus 10. During a “spray event”, energy is supplied to both the red and green LEDs, which can indicate yellow. This can inform the user that the spray droplets are actually being dispersed by the nozzle 24. When the door is open, the two-color LED 64 can indicate red. When the battery voltage falls below a predetermined threshold, the two-color LED 64 can emit flashing red light that can be recognized by the user. These are merely examples of possible displays for various modes of operation. The color of stable light or flashing light in various colors is left entirely to the system designer and has great flexibility within the teaching of the present invention. There are also many other ways of presenting operational information to the user, including an LCD display, or a number of individual lamps or LEDs, and such alternative methods are within the scope of the present invention.

  Referring now to FIG. 7, the power supply circuit 58 is depicted in more detail. A battery can be used to drive a voltage regulator U6 that outputs a +3.3 DC volt power rail. The regulator in this embodiment is an integrated circuit chip, part number LP2985, obtainable from National Semiconductor of Santa Clara, California. Another voltage regulator chip U5 is used to provide a +5 volt rail from a +12 volt supply voltage, which is another LP2985 regulator device (also available from National Semiconductor). Possible). FIG. 7 also depicts a boost switching regulator using a +12 volt DC input supply voltage and a switching regulator chip U7, which is also available from National Semiconductor. Integrated circuit chip, part number LM2586 device. Such voltage regulator chips are also available from other semiconductor manufacturers as well. The boost regulator is generally represented by reference numeral 28, which is referred to as a high voltage power supply in the previous figures. The output voltage is located at the node indicated by reference numeral 39, which represents a conductor that conducts a high voltage to the electrode 38 that charges the beneficial composition in the reservoir 26 or at the nozzle 24. FIG. 7 also shows a solid state relay U9 that provides current directly from the battery voltage to the high voltage power rail (ie, conductor 39).

  FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the overall arrangement of several components of one stand-alone embodiment of the fabric article processing apparatus 10 of the present invention. As described above, the electronic component 54 and the battery 52 are disposed in the outer housing 50, and the outer housing 50 is a flat type that transmits power and input / output signals between the outer housing 50 and the inner housing 20. It is electrically connected to the cable 40.

  Within the inner housing 20 are a reservoir 26, a pump 30, an electric motor 32, a high voltage power supply 28, a discharge nozzle 24, and various sensors that may or may not be included in certain types of processing apparatus 10. Be contained. A conductor 39 is depicted that conducts a high voltage to the nozzle 24, which is an alternative configuration that can be used instead of delivering a high voltage to the reservoir 26. In addition to piping 42 to the pump inlet, piping 44 from the pump outlet providing the beneficial composition to the nozzle 24 is shown. It should be noted that the high voltage power supply 28 is strictly within the scope of the teachings of the present invention, and if the spray droplets / particles emitted from the nozzle 24 are not electrostatically charged, the inner housing There is no need for a high-voltage power supply in 20.

  FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment for use with the present invention depicting a fabric article drying implement generally designated by reference numeral 110. In this mode of the invention, the controller depicted in the previous stand-alone embodiment diagram is now combined with the electronic control system of the drying apparatus 110. In this arrangement, a motion sensor is probably not necessary, but can still be used if specific information is desired for a particular model of the combined electronic control system of the drying apparatus 110. In FIG. 9, a door 15 is shown, which is a standard point where a human user approaches the internal drum volume of the drying apparatus 110. Nozzle 24 is used to direct the beneficial composition into the drum area, and the drum is generally designated by reference numeral 114. The supply tube 44 carries the beneficial composition to the nozzle 24 through the control valve 120, which may have an ON / OFF push button 56 if desired.

  FIG. 10 shows an alternative stand-alone embodiment of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 150. The components shown in FIG. 10 include a reservoir (or chamber) 26, an optional charging component 39 (an electrode or other type of conductor that carries a high voltage to the reservoir or nozzle), a discharge nozzle 24, a pump unit 30, And a set of batteries 52 are included. An electronic printed circuit board 54 is provided, which typically includes a microcontroller or other type of control circuit. As depicted at reference numeral 129, such devices typically include one or more sensors, including a pressure sensor, door sensor 22, motion sensor 36, humidity sensor 48, and A temperature sensor 48 may be included. In this embodiment 150, all of the components are contained in a single housing, and the entire unit is placed in a fabric article dryer such as a conventional clothes dryer found in the consumer's home.

  It will be appreciated that the electrical energy source used by the present invention may be provided in a wide variety of forms. For example, a battery (or a set of batteries) can be used, such as the set of batteries 52 described above. However, a standard line voltage can be used instead, such as 60Hz 120VAC single phase power (presumably 50Hz 220VAC in Europe). In some installations, a non-standard electrical energy source can be provided, such as a solar panel that includes photovoltaic cells or photoconductive cells.

  If a pressure sensor 129 is used, the sensor can be placed in a path 44 that directs the beneficial composition to the nozzle 24, and the sensor is then used to determine harmful pressure conditions in the path. be able to. For example, when the nozzle 24 is sufficiently clogged, a reverse pressure is generated in the path 44, and this is detected by the pressure sensor. If the pressure rises abnormally for some reason and reaches a harmful level, the pressure sensor 129 may indicate this harmful state (a state where the line or tube may burst if no action is taken). And the controller can decide to stop the system. If desired, a pressure switch can be used in place of the pressure transducer. Note that such a pressure sensor can be included in any embodiment of the invention.

  The “one housing” stand-alone unit 150 of FIG. 10 includes any features such as high voltage power supplies and certain sensors used only in certain configurations of the present invention. All electrical and electronic components described with respect to 7 can be incorporated. Unless a different type of power source is provided, a set of batteries 52 as shown in FIG. 10 is required.

  An extended flat cable (such as the flat cable 40 of FIG. 1) for exchanging electrical signals with the electronic controller on the printed circuit board 54 may not be necessary, but is usually within the integrated device 150 for that purpose. Some type of conductor is used. However, any door sensor similar to that described above with respect to the “two housing” embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 may be provided as a flat cable (or other form of cable or wiring). The optional door sensor can include a pressure sensitive conductor that is hung over the door of the dryer and changes between an electrical condition that changes between a first state when the door is open and a second state when the door is closed. Specific characteristics can be shown. Such a pressure sensitive door sensor can provide a door open / close signal when the door position status is useful to the device designer.

  Another optional feature of the single housing stand alone unit 150 is the provision of a time delayed cycle start function. For example, when the user wishes to start working on a conventional clothes dryer, the user opens the dryer door, presses an ON-OFF switch (not shown in FIG. 10), and then opens the dryer door. Can be closed. Electronic controller 54 can rely on the lack of dryer drum movement (using motion sensor 36) to prevent immediate spraying through nozzle 24, or spraying of beneficial composition through nozzle 24. An optional timer can be added to the controller 54 that “waits” for a few seconds before trying.

  Both the fabric article processing device 110 and the fabric article processing device 150 may include certain safety mechanisms, such as door sensors that can be used to interrupt the spray event when the door of the fabric article drying device is opened. . Such door sensors can also be used to interrupt power to a high voltage power source for processing equipment that uses any electrostatic nozzle. In addition, an operation sensor may be provided as another safety mechanism, and as described above, the operation sensor may have no other method for determining whether the drum of the fabric article drying apparatus is moving. This is advantageous for stand-alone control units (such as unit 150).

  A situation where more than one spray interval is used, in particular a spray “split interval” where the first spray event starts and ends and then the second spray event begins after a certain amount of elapsed time has occurred. Some other features of the present invention, such as the situation where “ In such a situation, the majority of the composition, such as 80% of the total amount dispensed during a particular drying cycle, would be dispensed through the nozzle 24 into the clothes dryer in the first spray event. Can be adjusted to be distributed between The remaining 20% can be sprayed later, which can actually occur near the end of the drying cycle, for example during a cool-down cycle of a drying event (or cycle). This can be useful for soot removal procedures where the exact amount of beneficial composition at the correct dispensing rate can be important. It will be appreciated that additional spray events (ie, more than two spray events) can be used in the drying apparatus without departing from the principles of the present invention.

  One of the other parameters that can affect the wrinkle removal process may be clothing moisture, which can be determined using a humidity sensor such as the humidity sensor 46 depicted in FIG. . If too much beneficial composition is delivered rapidly to a dry fabric, damp spots may occur on the garment and folds may be caused by excessive moisture and pressure from other garment articles. As it sticks, wrinkles may be triggered. Conversely, if the beneficial composition is delivered while the fabric is still wet, or if delivery of the beneficial composition onto the dry garment is too slow, the beneficial composition can effectively fold the fabric article. May not be loosened. Laundry size, fabric article drying appliance type, fabric contents, and humidity and temperature variations within the drying appliance drum unit can all play a part in creating an effective or ineffective wrinkle removal procedure. Such variability with a suitable sensor, such as a humidity sensor, and a controller having the ability to control the dispensing rate, the initial time the spraying event begins, and the duration of the spraying event during which the beneficial composition is dispensed. Can be effectively managed to obtain an optimal soot removal result. In addition, other fabric benefits such as softening can occur best at high humidity (softening actives can effectively spread on wet fabrics), while other fabric benefits are May be optimized at different humidity levels.

  One benefit of using a humidity sensor is that such a sensor can be used to determine when a “critical moisture content” has been reached in a fabric article drying implement. The second spray event can be initiated after the relative humidity has dropped to about 10% below the critical moisture content. This can be detected by the humidity sensor 46. In general, the first spray event ends in this situation well before the start of the second spray event. However, if the fabric article drying utensil is set to a very small wash volume, the first spray interval when the control system determines (in conjunction with the humidity sensor input information) that the second spray event should start. Can still occur. In that situation, there may not necessarily be an elapsed time period during which no spraying procedure occurs (ie, the first spraying event and the second spraying event may overlap).

  In the present invention, humidity sensor input information can be used to determine the “exact” time to start (or start) a spray event. Such “exact” time can be used as an absolute control variable, or such time can be used when the controller determines that it is time to start (or start) the spray event. Or, in some cases, when it is time to end the spray event, it can be used in conjunction with other system parameters used by the controller.

  In one mode of operation of the present invention, the processing device may initiate a first spray event when the relative humidity within the drum volume of the fabric article drying implement is above 40%. For specific fabrics, for specific drying methods, or when used with specific compositions sprayed through nozzle 24, the first is when the relative humidity in the drum volume of the fabric article drying apparatus is above 60%. It is preferable to begin a spray event.

  In another mode of operation of the present invention, the second spray event is preferably initiated when the relative humidity in the drum volume of the fabric article drying implement is below 40%. For specific fabrics, for specific drying methods, or when used with specific beneficial compositions sprayed through nozzle 24, the relative humidity within the drum volume of the fabric article drying apparatus is less than 20%, more Preferably, the second spray event is initiated when the relative humidity is below 10%.

  Another sensor that can be used to improve performance is a temperature sensor, such as temperature sensor 48 depicted in FIG. When the split interval spray method is used as described above, the temperature sensor 48 can determine when the fabric article drying apparatus has entered its cool-down cycle, which is typically the entire fabric treatment cycle. Happens near the end. In many situations, it is beneficial to wait for the cooldown cycle to begin before initiating a second spray event, which will be apparent after the first spray event begins and ends. And in the meantime after a certain amount of elapsed time has occurred where no spraying takes place. However, as described above with respect to the humidity sensor, if a very small amount of laundry is selected by the user of the fabric article drying implement, the first spraying event and the second spraying event will overlap and “true The split interval spray procedure may not exist because the first spray event did not end before it was time to start the second spray event. Thus, there may not be an elapsed time interval during which no spraying occurs. The temperature sensor can also function as a safety device (eg, spraying is activated only when the dryer reaches a predetermined temperature).

  Another improved performance feature of the present invention when using a high voltage power supply 28 is that the electrostatic spray voltage can be varied to adjust to various humidity conditions within the fabric article drying apparatus, if desired. It is a thing. At the beginning of the drying cycle, the beneficial composition can begin to spray at a voltage of about 4-6 kV, which typically occurs during relatively high humidity conditions. As humidity decreases, it may be beneficial to reduce the electrostatic voltage applied to the beneficial composition sprayed through the nozzle 24. Thus, at lower humidity (such as near the end of a processing cycle), a lower output voltage from high voltage power supply 28 provides a sufficient charge / mass ratio for the charge to mass of the beneficial composition dispensed through nozzle 24. be able to. As described above, a more sophisticated supply of high voltage power 28 can be included in the fabric article drying implement, allowing the controller to literally control the output voltage applied on the electrodes, which in turn is the output voltage. Charge the beneficial composition within the reservoir 26 or at the nozzle 24 itself.

  There may be situations where the output voltage is slowly modulated or changed over time, and these situations may actually require an increase in output voltage under certain conditions. However, it is generally preferred that the variable output voltage of the high voltage power supply 28 produce a smaller magnitude voltage as humidity decreases in the fabric article drying apparatus, for example at the end of a fabric treatment cycle. By the time, the voltage can be reduced to about 1-4 kV.

  Another improvement provided by the present invention is the use of a variable speed motor 32 that drives a pump 30. If the motor 32 is energized using a pulse width modulation control scheme, the PWM duty cycle can be increased as the battery voltage begins to drop. This has the effect of controlling the effective output provided by the pump 30 and attempts to keep the output volume of the pump 30 substantially constant even when the battery voltage begins to drop as the battery 52 discharges. The exact tolerance to maintain a “substantially constant” pump output volume may be left to the designer's preference, but as long as the controller can continue to maintain a larger duty cycle (ie, duty A tolerance of 10% or 20% (possibly even higher percentages) is probably an improvement over simply reducing the pump's performance until it reaches its peak at 100% cycle. When using this mode of operation, the battery tends to discharge faster.

  At the same time, if a high voltage power supply 28 with a controllable variable output voltage is used, as the system designer desires, as the battery voltage begins to drop, its output voltage will continue so that the effective output voltage remains substantially constant. Can also be “increased”. As an alternative design, as the battery voltage begins to decrease, the input voltage driving the high voltage power supply 28 is increased, thereby keeping the voltage to the motor 32 (or piezo pump 30-see below) substantially constant. Can do. The exact tolerance that the “substantially constant” effective voltage should be maintained may be left to the designer's preference, but as long as the battery can continue to supply enough current to operate the controller, A tolerance of 10% or 20% (sometimes a higher percentage) is probably an improvement over simply reducing the voltage without any correction attempts. When using this mode of operation, the battery tends to discharge faster.

  As previously mentioned, one type of pump 30 that can be used in the present invention is a peristaltic pump, including those used in electrostatic spray applications. Another preferred type of pump 30 that can be used in the present invention is an ultrasonic piezo pump, which has the advantage of having no major moving parts. Although certain membranes or layered structures (or other types of layers) may oscillate reciprocally, piezo pumps are used with rotating shafts and bearings used with rotating members to move liquid or gaseous fluids It has no major moving parts that can wear out. Also, reciprocating pumps require major moving parts that can also be worn, and therefore some type of bearing or bushing that eventually becomes a worn surface. Typical piezo pumps that can be used in the present invention are manufactured by PAR Technologies, LLC, a company in Hampton, Virginia, and in particular, the “LPD Series” stacked piezos from PAR Technologies. It is a fluid pump. Pumps manufactured by PAR Technologies that draw relatively low currents are available. Such a piezo pump does not require a separate motor, such as the motor 32 depicted in FIG.

  All documents cited in “Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” are incorporated herein by reference in the relevant part, and any citation of any document is prior art to the present invention. Should not be construed as acceptance.

  While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a stand-alone fabric article processing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The perspective view which looked at the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1 from the opposite angle. FIG. 2 is an elevational view from one end of a partial cross-section of the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a partial cross section of an inner housing portion of the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from one side. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of several electrical and mechanical components used in the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first portion of an electronic controller used in the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first portion of an electronic controller used in the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first portion of an electronic controller used in the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram of another portion of the controller including the power component of the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1. The fragmentary sectional view of the fabric article processing apparatus of FIG. 1 when attached to the door of the clothes dryer apparatus. 1 is a perspective view of a fabric article drying apparatus constructed with the principles of the present invention having a nozzle that sprays the beneficial composition into the drum portion of the dryer. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram of several components used by an alternative embodiment of a stand-alone fabric article processing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, wherein the entire processing apparatus is housed within a single housing or enclosure.

Claims (33)

A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the chamber;
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with the chamber;
A dispensing device that forcibly moves the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the chamber;
A closure structure sensor;
A control circuit for initiating spraying of the beneficial composition;
With
The fabric article processing system, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the closure structure sensor indicates that the closure structure is not in the closed position.   The processing system of claim 1, wherein the closure structure sensor comprises (a) a photosensitive device, (b) a pressure sensitive conductor, or a combination thereof. A motion sensor,
The chamber can be moved during operation;
3. The processing system of claim 1 and 2, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the motion sensor indicates that the movable chamber is not moving. A motion sensor,
The chamber can cause movement of air inside it during operation;
4. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the motion sensor indicates that sufficient air movement is not occurring in the chamber. The processing system as described in any one. Further comprising a charging circuit that imparts a charge to the beneficial composition, thereby providing electrostatic spraying;
Preferably, the charging circuit includes a high voltage power source having a variable output voltage controlled by the control circuit,
The control circuit further includes the beneficial composition such that a first output voltage is generated during a first spray interval of a spray event and a different second output voltage is generated during a second spray interval of the spray event. Is configured to change the output voltage of the high-voltage power supply applied to
More preferably, the first spray interval and the second spray interval are separated in time, thereby providing the processing system with the first spray interval, then discontinuing spraying and then the first spray interval. The processing system according to claim 1, which provides two spray intervals. Further comprising a humidity sensor attached to communicate with the chamber;
The processing system of claim 5, wherein the second spray interval begins when the humidity sensor determines that the moisture content in the fabric article drying implement has reached a critical level. Further comprising a humidity sensor attached to communicate with the chamber;
The control circuit is
(A) starting the first spray interval when the humidity sensor determines that the relative humidity in the fabric article drying apparatus is above 40%;
(B) starting the second spray interval when the humidity sensor determines that the relative humidity in the fabric article drying implement is below 40%;
(C) or a combination of these,
The processing system of claim 5, further configured as follows. Further comprising a temperature sensor mounted in communication with the chamber;
The processing system of claims 5-7, wherein the second spray interval begins when the temperature sensor determines that a cool-down cycle of the fabric article drying implement is in progress. Further comprising a temperature sensor mounted in communication with the chamber;
The processing system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the temperature sensor indicates that the fabric article drying implement is not operating properly. (A) The control circuit includes:
(I) a sequential processing device,
(Ii) a parallel processing device;
(Iii) a logical state machine; and
(Iv) Discrete analog / logic electronic circuits,
Including at least one of
(B) the source of beneficial composition includes a reservoir;
(C) the charging circuit includes a high voltage power source;
(D) the dispensing device forcibly moving the beneficial composition comprises a pump device;
The processing system is
A conductor for transmitting an output voltage from the high-voltage power source to an electrode, thereby charging the beneficial composition;
A power source,
The processing system according to any one of claims 5 to 9, further comprising: (A) a first enclosure;
(B) a second enclosure;
(C) an electrical cable connected to the first and second enclosures;
(D) an electric motor for operating the pump device;
Further comprising
(E) the first enclosure is arranged external to the fabric article drying implement;
(I) the power source;
(Ii) the control circuit;
Including
(F) the second enclosure is disposed internally relative to the fabric article drying implement;
(I) the reservoir initially containing the beneficial composition;
(Ii) the high-voltage power source;
(Iii) the pump device;
(Iv) the electric motor;
(V) the electrode and the conductor for transmitting an output voltage to the electrode;
(Vi) the nozzle;
(Viii) the closure structure sensor;
Including
(G) The electrical cable is
(I) electrical energy from the power source to the high voltage power source;
(Ii) at least one signal from the control circuit to the electric motor;
(Iii) at least one signal from the closure structure sensor to the control circuit;
The processing system according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein A voltage detection circuit; and an electric motor for operating the pump device,
(A) the power source includes a battery;
(B) the voltage detection circuit measures an output voltage generated by the battery;
(C) the control circuit generates a pulse width modulated variable output signal for controlling the electric motor; and
(D) The control circuit increases the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated variable output signal as the output voltage generated by the battery decreases, thereby causing the battery to partially discharge and its rating. 12. The device of claim 5, wherein the pump device is further configured to provide a substantially constant amount of the beneficial composition to the nozzle even when the output voltage can no longer be maintained. Processing system. A voltage detection circuit;
(A) the power source includes a battery;
(B) the voltage detection circuit measures an output voltage generated by the battery;
(C) The control circuit further reduces the variable output voltage of the high-voltage power supply when the output voltage generated by the battery decreases and the battery is partially discharged and cannot maintain its rated output voltage. The processing system according to claim 5, wherein the processing system is configured to maintain a constant size. (A) an enclosure attached to a location inside the fabric article drying implement;
(B) an electric motor for operating the pump device;
Further comprising
The enclosure is
(I) the power source;
(Ii) the control circuit;
(Iii) the reservoir initially containing the beneficial composition;
(Iv) the high-voltage power supply;
(V) the pump device;
(Vi) the electric motor;
(Vii) the electrode and the conductor for transmitting an output voltage to the electrode;
(Viii) the nozzle;
(Ix) the closure structure sensor;
The processing system as described in any one of Claims 5-13 which accommodates. The spray event includes a first spray interval and a second spray interval,
The first spray interval and the second spray interval are separated in time, thereby providing the processing system with the first spray interval, then stopping spraying, and then setting the second spray interval. 15. A processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 14, wherein Further comprising a humidity sensor attached to communicate with the chamber;
The processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the second spray interval starts when the humidity sensor determines that the moisture content in the fabric article drying device has reached a critical level. A temperature sensor mounted in communication with the chamber;
The processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second spray interval begins when the temperature sensor determines that a cool-down cycle of the fabric article drying implement is in progress. A fabric article drying implement having a movable chamber moved during operation and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to said movable chamber;
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with the movable chamber;
A dispensing device that forcibly moves the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source to the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the movable chamber;
A motion sensor;
A control circuit for initiating spraying of the beneficial composition;
With
The fabric article processing system, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the motion sensor indicates that the movable chamber is not moving. A fabric article processing system comprising:
A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the movable chamber;
A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with the chamber;
A dispensing device that forcibly moves the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the chamber;
A control circuit;
With
The control circuit is
(A) spraying the beneficial composition through the nozzle when a spraying event begins; and (b) a first spraying interval of the spraying event and a second spraying interval of the spraying event are separated in time. Starting the first spray interval and the second spray interval;
Configured as a processing system. (A) The control circuit includes:
(I) a sequential processing device,
(Ii) a parallel processing device;
(Iii) a logic state machine; and (iv) a discrete analog / logic electronic circuit,
Including at least one of
(B) the source of beneficial composition includes a reservoir;
(C) The dispensing device for forcibly moving the beneficial composition includes a pump device, preferably the pump device is (a) an ultrasonic piezo pump, preferably movable other than controlled vibration Including one of the piezo pump having no parts, and (b) a peristaltic pump,
The processing system of claim 19, wherein the processing system further comprises a power source. A fabric article processing system for use in a fabric article drying apparatus comprising:
A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the movable chamber;
A beneficial composition reservoir;
A nozzle in communication with the chamber;
A pump device for forcing the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition reservoir toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition into the chamber;
An electric motor for operating the pump device;
Battery,
A voltage detection circuit for measuring an output voltage generated by the battery;
A control circuit, preferably a control circuit including one of (i) a sequential processor, (ii) a parallel processor, (iii) a logic state machine, and (iv) a discrete analog / logic electronic circuit;
With
The control circuit is
(A) spraying the beneficial composition through the nozzle when a spraying event begins;
(B) generating a pulse width modulated variable output signal for controlling the electric motor; and
(C) increasing the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated variable output signal as the output voltage generated by the battery decreases, thereby allowing the battery to be partially discharged to maintain its rated output voltage. Even when lost, the pump device provides a substantially constant amount of the beneficial composition to the nozzle.
Configured as a processing system. A source of beneficial composition;
A nozzle in communication with the beneficial composition source;
A dispensing device for forcibly moving the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, thereby spraying the beneficial composition;
At least one safety sensor;
A control circuit for initiating spraying of the beneficial composition;
With
The fabric article processing apparatus, wherein the control circuit prevents the beneficial composition from being sprayed when the at least one safety sensor indicates that it is in a predetermined state. Further comprising a charging circuit that imparts a charge to the beneficial composition, thereby providing electrostatic spraying;
Preferably, the charging circuit includes a high voltage power source having a variable output voltage controlled by the control circuit,
The control circuit further includes the beneficial composition such that a first output voltage is generated during a first spray interval of a spray event and a different second output voltage is generated during a second spray interval of the spray event. It is configured to change the output voltage of the high-voltage power supply applied to the object,
Preferably, the first spray interval and the second spray interval are separated in time, thereby providing the processor with the first spray interval, then stopping spraying and then the second spray. 24. The fabric article processing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fabric article processing apparatus provides an interval. (A) The control circuit includes:
(I) a sequential processing device,
(Ii) a parallel processing device;
(Iii) a logical state machine; and
(Iv) Discrete analog / logic electronic circuits,
Including at least one of
(B) the source of beneficial composition includes a reservoir;
(C) the charging circuit includes a high voltage power source;
(D) the dispensing device forcibly moving the beneficial composition comprises a pump device;
The processing device is
A conductor for transmitting an output voltage from the high-voltage power source to an electrode, thereby charging the beneficial composition;
A power source,
The fabric article processing apparatus according to claim 22 and 23, further comprising: A fabric article drying implement having a chamber and a closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position and allowing access to the chamber;
25. A fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the nozzle communicates with the chamber and, where appropriate, sprays the beneficial composition into the chamber. A single enclosure,
The beneficial composition source, the nozzle, the dispensing device forcing the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, the at least one safety sensor, and the control circuit are all Stored in the fabric article drying device,
Preferably, the beneficial composition source, the nozzle, the dispensing device forcing the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, the at least one safety sensor, and the control circuit 26. The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the apparatus is combined with a controller that is part of the fabric article drying apparatus. An inner enclosure and an outer enclosure,
(A) the external enclosure is disposed external to the fabric article drying implement and includes the control circuit and a power source;
(B) the internal enclosure is disposed inside the fabric article drying implement and includes the nozzle;
The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 26.   The internal enclosure further comprises the beneficial composition source, the dispensing device for forcibly moving the beneficial composition from the beneficial composition source toward the nozzle, and the at least one safety sensor. The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of 22 to 27. The at least one safety sensor comprises:
a) a closure structure sensor, preferably a closure structure sensor comprising a photosensitive device, a pressure sensitive conductor, or a combination thereof,
The predetermined condition has occurred when the closure structure sensor indicates that there is no closure structure in the closed position that has a closed position and at least one open position and allows access to the chamber; Closure structure sensor,
b) a motion sensor,
The motion sensor when the motion sensor indicates that the chamber is not moving, the predetermined condition has occurred, or
c) a pressure sensor disposed in a path between the source of beneficial composition and the nozzle,
If the pressure sensor indicates a detrimental pressure condition, the predetermined condition has occurred, a pressure sensor;
d) a temperature sensor attached in communication with the inner region of the fabric article drying implement;
A temperature sensor configured to prevent the control circuit from spraying the beneficial composition when the temperature sensor indicates that the fabric article drying implement is not operating properly; or
e) a combination of a), b), c), and d),
29. A fabric article processing device according to any one of claims 22 to 28. The control circuit is configured to spray the beneficial composition through the nozzle when a spray event begins, the spray event including a first spray interval and a second spray interval;
The processing apparatus further comprises a humidity sensor attached to communicate with the chamber,
30. The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 29, wherein the second spray interval begins when the humidity sensor determines that the moisture content in the chamber has reached a critical level. The control circuit is configured to spray the beneficial composition through the nozzle when a spray event begins, the spray event including at least a first spray interval and a second spray interval;
The processing apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor attached to communicate with the chamber,
31. The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 30, wherein the second spray interval begins when the temperature sensor determines that a cool down cycle of the fabric article drying apparatus is in progress. . A battery, and a voltage detection circuit for measuring an output voltage generated by the battery,
(A) the dispensing device for forcibly moving the beneficial composition comprises a pump device driven by an electric motor;
(B) the control circuit includes:
(I) spraying the beneficial composition through the nozzle when a spraying event begins;
(Ii) generating a pulse width modulated variable output signal for controlling the electric motor; and
(Iii) As the output voltage generated by the battery decreases, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated variable output signal is increased so that the battery is partially discharged to reduce its rated output voltage. The pumping device provides a substantially constant amount of the beneficial composition to the nozzle even when it cannot be maintained.
The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 31, configured as described above. A battery, a voltage detection circuit for measuring an output voltage generated by the battery, and a high-voltage power supply having a variable output voltage controlled by the control circuit,
The control circuit further increases the variable output voltage of the high-voltage power source to a substantially constant level when the output voltage generated by the battery decreases and the battery becomes partially discharged and cannot maintain its rated output voltage. 33. The fabric article processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 32, configured to maintain the thickness.

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