JP2007160069A - Method for monitoring rotational movement of rotating arm of cleaning machine and cleaning machine executing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning machine preventing the lowering of quality of a cleaning result caused by influences of clogging of rotating arms in a nozzle or a bulky object on the rotational movement of the rotating arms or their obstruction of the rotational movement. <P>SOLUTION: For monitoring the rotational movement of rotating arms 2, 3, 7, and 8, desired values nk1sn are nk2sn for rotational movement of basket rotating arms 7 and 8, which are attached to an insertable basket 4, are modified as a function of the measured rotational movement values n1i and n2i of additional permanently installed arms 2 and 3. Through such a "sliding" desired value, influences on the rotational movement value of all rotating arms due to interfering parameters, such fluid pressure, temperature, viscosity, and chemicals in a cleaning fluid, can be compensated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The invention relates to a method for monitoring the rotational movement of a rotary arm of a washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a washing machine for carrying out the method according to the preamble of claim 6.

  A method and washing machine of this kind is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 103 47 835. This known cleaning machine monitors the rotational movement of the rotating arm, for example by means of a sensor having a reed contact or a magnet assigned to the rotating arm. The rotating arm is arranged on a washing basket that can be inserted into the washing space, i.e. the wet area, of the washing machine. Thereby, for each rotation of the rotary arm, one or two pulses are generated, which are transmitted electrically isolated from the wet area of the washing machine into the dry area via a coupling coil, Rated by. Thus, the output signals of several sensors can be combined and transmitted as a sum signal by the coupling coil.

  A washer, for example a washer for a medical instrument, dish or other object, typically has at least one rotating arm that is rotated by the cleaning fluid coming out of the nozzle of the rotating arm. Can do. Here, sometimes a clogged nozzle or a bulky object in the rotating arm can affect or even block the rotational movement of the rotating arm, thereby reducing the quality of the cleaning result. This is particularly a problem when a machine for cleaning medical devices is used because higher cleanliness requirements are imposed on the cleaning or rinsing results. For this reason, the rotational movement of one or more rotary arms is monitored by sensors. Examples here are German registered patent No. 197 32 856, German published patent Nos. 40 10 066, 44 38 036, No. 32 46 669, No. 101 61 106 and European published patent No. 0. 053 231.

  Furthermore, it is known in the above-mentioned washing machine according to DE 103 47 835 to place an object to be washed in a so-called washing basket, with at least one rotating arm attached to the basket, Usually, it can be pushed into and withdrawn from the washing machine, supported by rollers and guide rails, and when the washing basket is pushed into the washing machine, this rotating arm can be connected to the washing fluid supply source. Such washing baskets are also known from German Offenlegungsschrift 197 21 538, German Utility Model 296 20 010, German Utility Model 296 19 272 or German Patent 38 19 275.

  In practice, the rotational movement value of the rotating arm can vary depending on various parameters, for example, the pressure of the cleaning fluid, the viscosity of the cleaning fluid, the temperature of the cleaning fluid, the type of chemical added, It varies significantly depending on the friction of the rotary arm bearing, the amount of water in the cleaning cycle, foaming due to the cleaning fluid, and the reduction of the circulation pump output. In order to monitor the rotational movement of the rotary arm, the desired rotational movement value is preset and compared with the actual rotational movement value measured by the sensor. If the absolute value of the deviation exceeds a preset threshold, an error signal is generated and the cleaning result is rejected.

  Based on parameters that essentially affect the actual rotational movement value of the rotary arm, until now, a very wide tolerance range has to be set for the allowable rotational movement value, so that the rotation Even though the rotational movement value of the arm is within the allowable range, an inappropriate cleaning result may be obtained.

  When monitoring the rotational movement of a rotating arm, only the sum of the rotational movement values of some or all of the rotating arms on the car is evaluated, which is a sensor that sends a rotational movement signal from the car to the drying area of the machine And / or the advantage of having no signal transmission device, but this may cause one rotating arm to be partially or completely obstructed and the other rotating arm to rotate faster, Thus, the sum signal of the rotational movement values is again within the allowable range.

  In washing machines in use today, one or more, usually one or two permanently or fixedly mounted arms inside the machine, and one or more, hereinafter called basket washing arms, on the washing basket. There is a rotating arm. Here, it is shown that the car rotation arm frequently shows an inappropriate rotational movement value regardless of insufficient communication with the pressurized cleaning fluid or due to the clogging of the spray nozzle with contaminants. It was done.

  In practice, the desired rotational movement values of the individual rotating arms and the car rotating arms are determined in a preliminary test and programmed into the machine controller. Due to the parameters mentioned above, such as the pressure, viscosity and temperature of the cleaning fluid or the type of chemical added, the actual rotational movement value deviates significantly from the desired rotational movement value, resulting in a complete cleaning result on the one hand. On the other hand, incorrect cleaning results will be evaluated as correct. In this sense, the cleaning result is related to the rotational movement value of the rotary arm.

  These disadvantages should be overcome by the present invention. The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a method and a washing machine of the type mentioned above to the extent that monitoring of the rotational movement of the rotary arm is improved. This object is achieved by the features indicated in claims 1 and 6 respectively.

  The basic principle of the present invention is to use the rotational movement value of one or more permanently attached arms as a reference value for the desired rotational movement value of one or more car rotation arms. Similarly, this also applies to the summed rotational movement of several rotating arms arranged on the car only if the sum signal is transmitted and evaluated. With the parameters listed above, if the permanently attached arm rotates at a lower speed than that corresponding to the desired rotational movement value, for example, the desired rotational movement value of the car rotating arm or the total of the car rotating arm is summed. The desired value of the rotational movement value can be reduced accordingly and vice versa.

  Here, it can be assumed that the pressure of the cleaning fluid supplied to the rotary arm and usually supplied by the circulation pump is within an acceptable tolerance, and this pressure is preferably measured.

  Tracking the desired rotational movement value for the car rotating arm as a function of the rotational movement value of the permanently attached arm is clearly a constant desired value of the rotational movement value of the permanently attached arm. Relatedly, it is only performed within a predetermined tolerance for the rotational movement values of these permanently attached arms. This ensures that for a permanently attached arm that is completely or partially occluded, the desired rotational movement value for the car rotation arm does not fall below an acceptable value.

If the washer has two permanently attached arms, for example with the desired rotational movement values n1s and n2s, the “changed” desired rotational movement value nk1sn for the first rotational arm on the car is It is defined by the following formula.
nk1sn = nk1s · (n1i + n2i) / (n1s + n2s)
Where n1i and n2i are the measured actual values of the rotational movement values of the two permanently attached arms, n1s and n2s are the desired rotational movement values of these rotary arms, and nk1s Is the first determined desired rotational movement value of the first rotating arm on the car.

  As a result of correcting the desired rotational movement value of the car rotation arm in this way, the tolerance for the rotation arm can be set much narrower than the rotation arm on the car, and one rotation arm is closed. Whether or not, several rotating arms can be reliably and simultaneously monitored on the car.

  The present invention will now be described in more detail with respect to one embodiment in connection with the drawings.

The schematic of a washing machine is shown.

  The cleaning machine has a cleaning space 1, and an arm 2 that is permanently attached to the upper portion thereof, an arm 3 that is permanently attached to the lower portion thereof, and a roller 5 on the guide rail 6. A washing basket 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as “cage 4”) is provided which can be pushed into or pulled out of the basket. Above the car 4 are two car rotating arms 7,8. In a known manner, all of the rotary arms 2, 3, 7 and 8 have a spray jet 9, from which pressurized cleaning fluid comes out, which causes the rotary arm to rotate. All of the rotary arms 2, 3, 7 and 8 are connected to the supply line 10 in a known manner, and pressurized cleaning fluid is supplied to the rotary arm via the supply line 10. The cleaning fluid is supplied in a known manner from the so-called sump 11 of the cleaning space 1 to the circulation pump 12 and from there under pressure to the rotary arms 2, 3, 7 and 8 via the supply line 10. Downstream of the circulation pump 12, there is a pipe branch 13 with two controllable valves 14 and 15, which opens or closes the connection between the circulation pump 12 and the supply line 10, and the valve 15 The connection between the circulation pump 12 and the drain 16 is opened or closed so that the position of these two valves circulates the cleaning fluid, i.e. from the machine sump 11 to the rotary arms 2, 3, 7, and 8 is fed again or led to a drain 16 to empty the machine. Furthermore, the supply line 10 can be connected via a third valve 17 to a supply line 18 for cleaning fluid. Thus, cleaning fluid or rinsing fluid or dry air can also be supplied to the machine in a known manner.

  Although not shown in detail, supplying cleaning fluid to the car rotating arms 7 and 8 is via one or more connectors 19 that are automatically connected when the car 4 is pushed into the cleaning space 1. It should be mentioned that this is realized.

  Furthermore, it should be mentioned that additional stationary spray nozzles can be arranged in the cleaning space 1 and / or on the basket 4 as is generally known in the prior art.

  The machine has a number of sensors 20, 21, 22 and 23, each assigned to one of the arms 2, 3, 7 and 8, with the appropriate rotating arm 2, 3, 7 or 8 An electronic signal n1i, n2i, nk1i or nk2i corresponding to the rotational movement value is generated. In practice, as is known, any type of sensor can be used, for example from the prior art listed above.

  These signals are supplied to the evaluation circuit 25 where they are evaluated as follows.

First, the signals n1i and n2i, ie the rotational movement values of the permanently attached arms 2 and 3, are compared with a certain preset desired value nls or n2s. If the difference between the desired value and the actual value is within a predetermined first tolerance range TB1 of eg -50% of the desired value, the desired values nk1sn and nk2sn of the car rotating arms 7 and 8 are actually N1i and n2i, which are here realized according to the following relationship:
nk1sn = nk1s · (n1i + n2i) / (n1s + n2s)
And nk2sn = nk2s · (n1i + n2i) / (n1s + n2s)

  If there are additional rotating arms in the car, the determination of their desired values is performed in the same way.

  The new desired values nk1sn and nk2sn are then compared with the actual values nk1i and nk2i determined by the sensors 22 and 23. If the deviation is within the predetermined second tolerance range TB2, the rotational movement values of all rotary arms are considered “appropriate” and the cleaning process continues. In contrast, the rotational movement values of the permanently attached arms 2 and 3 are outside the first tolerance range TB1 described above, or the rotational movement values of the car rotation arms 7 and 8 are outside the second tolerance range TB2. If so, an error signal is generated and output on line 26. Then, the cleaning process may be stopped. The error signal may take any arbitrary form. It may include a visual or audible alarm or “error log” that is output to a display or printer.

  In addition, an error signal is provided to the controller 28, which controls and monitors the program flow of the washer in a known manner, for example by controlling the circulation pump 12 and the valves 13, 14, 15 and 17. And a signal corresponding to the fluid pressure in the supply line 10 from the pressure sensor 27. Upon receipt of the error signal, the cleaning process may be terminated early.

  One possible embodiment of the evaluation circuit 25 will be described later, but here it is implemented with hardware including logic and computing elements. Obviously, it should be mentioned that it is also possible to use a programmed microcontroller performing the corresponding function.

  The output signal n1i of the sensor 20 is supplied to a first subtractor 29, where it is subtracted from a predetermined desired value n1s for the rotational movement value of the upper rotary arm 2 permanently attached. The output signal (n1s-n1i) of the subtractor 29 is supplied to the comparator 30 where it is compared with a certain preset value TB1. This value defines a first tolerance for the rotational displacement of the upper permanently mounted arm 2 from the desired value n1s. If the output signal of the subtractor 29 is greater than the value TB1, the comparator 30 switches and thus outputs an error signal to the OR gate 42, which then provides this signal to the output 26 and simultaneously to the controller 28. Notification via line 43. Similarly, the output signal n2i of the sensor 21 for the permanently mounted lower rotary arm 3 is subtracted from the desired value n2s in a subtractor 31, and the difference is a constant predetermined value in another comparator 32. Is compared with the value TB1. In the usual case, this value is equal to the value TB1 supplied to the comparator 30. Here, when the comparator 32 is switched, an error signal is output to the OR gate 42 again. In both cases, the error signal indicates that the rotational movement of the corresponding permanently attached arm 2 or 3 is outside a predetermined tolerance.

  In order to determine the desired value for the rotational movement values of the car rotation arms 7 and 8, the desired values n1s and n2s are supplied to the first adder 33 and the actual values n1i and n2i are supplied to the second adder 34. The output signals (n1s + n2s) and (n1i + n2i) are supplied to the divider 35, and the output signals (n1i + n2i) / (n1s + n2s) are supplied to the first multiplier 36. It is then multiplied by a certain predetermined desired value nkls and the actual value nk1i of the sensor 22. The output signal of the multiplier 36 represents the newly changed desired value signal nk1sn for the car rotation arm 7, which is subtracted from the actual value nk1i in another subtractor 37. The output signal of the subtractor 37 is supplied to another comparator 38, where it is compared with a predetermined value TB2 that defines an acceptable range. If the difference between the actual value nk1i and the new desired value nk1sn is outside the allowable range, the comparator 38 switches and outputs an error signal to the OR gate 42. In a corresponding manner, the output signal of the divider 35 is fed to another multiplier 39, the other input of which is the actual value signal nk2i for the other car rotation arm 8 and a certain predetermined desired value. Value nk2s is received. Similarly, another subtractor 40 and a comparator 41 are provided so that the comparator 41 outputs an error signal to the OR gate 42 when the rotational movement value of the car rotation arm 8 is outside the allowable range TB2. .

  If the car 4 has additional rotating arms, the other signals of the additional sensors assigned to these additional rotating arms are processed in the same way.

  As already mentioned, it is also possible to combine the rotational movement values of several rotating arms of a car into one sum signal, so that the desired value for this sum signal is changed in a similar way. The Although not described in detail in this description and the enclosed claims, the term “modified desired value” may always refer to the sum signal of the rotational movement values of several car rotating arms. The term rotational movement value of one or more car rotating arms may also refer to the actual value of the sum signal of several car rotating arms.

  From the above description, it is clear that it is provided that the desired value for the rotational movement value of the car rotating arm is slid according to the actual rotational movement value of the permanently mounted arm, and the cleaning fluid Effects from "interference parameters" such as viscosity, temperature, pressure and chemical composition of the car can be compensated to the maximum possible range, so that the rotational value of the car rotating arm is much narrower to the rotational movement deviation Allowable values can be set. Thus, the number of monitored car rotating arms can also be increased.

Claims (10)

In a method for monitoring the rotational movement of a rotating arm of a cleaning machine, the cleaning machine comprises at least one permanently mounted arm (2, 3) and at least arranged on an insertable cleaning basket (4). One car rotating arm (7, 8), all of the rotating arms (2, 3, 7, 8) are driven to rotate by pressurized fluid, and all the rotational movement values of the rotating arms are A method of monitoring rotational movement of a rotating arm of a washing machine, measured and compared to a desired value, comprising:
The desired value (nk1sn, nk2sn) for the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) is the actual value of the one or more permanently attached arms (2, 3). A method for monitoring the rotational movement of a rotary arm of a washing machine, characterized in that it is changed as a function of the measured rotational movement values (n1i, n2i).   The washing machine has two permanently attached arms (2, 3) and the desired values (nk1sn, nk2sn) for the rotational movement values of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8). ) Is changed as a function of the rotational movement value (n1i, n2i) of the two permanently attached arms (2, 3). A method of monitoring the rotational movement of the arm. The desired value (nk1sn, nk2sn) for the rotational value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) or the desired rotational value of the sum of several car rotating arms (7, 8) The value of (nksn) is changed according to the following relationship:
nk1sn = (n1i + n2i) / (n1s + n2s) · nk1
n1i and n2i are the measured actual values of the rotational movement values of the two permanently attached arms, and n1s and n2s are the permanently attached arms (2, 3), respectively. A predetermined predetermined value for the rotational movement value of, and nk1 is relative to the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) or several car rotating arms (7 8. The method of monitoring the rotational movement of the rotary arm of the washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it is a constant predetermined desired value that is not changed with respect to the total rotational movement value of 8). .   The desired value of the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms is a predetermined value where the measured rotational movement values (n1i, n2i) of the permanently attached arm or the rotating arm are constant. The method for monitoring the rotational movement of the rotary arm of the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is changed only when it is within the first tolerance (TB1).   The actual rotational movement value (nk1i, nk2i) of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) or the total rotational movement value of several car rotating arms is the corresponding car rotating arm (7 , 8) or a predetermined second tolerance range (TB2) with respect to the changed desired value of the car rotation arms (7, 8) or the changed desired value of the total rotational movement value of several car rotating arms (7, 8). 5. A method for monitoring the rotational movement of a rotary arm of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an error signal is generated if it is outside. At least one permanently attached arm (2, 3) that can be rotated by a pressurized cleaning fluid and a cleaning basket (4) that can also be rotated by a pressurized cleaning fluid and can be inserted. ) At least one car rotating arm (7, 8) arranged on the top and sensors (20, 21, 22, 23) for detecting the rotational movement of all the rotating arms (2, 3, 7, 8); A washing machine comprising an evaluation circuit (25) for generating an error signal when the rotational movement value measured by the sensors (20-23) exceeds a predetermined value and deviates from a desired value,
The evaluation circuit (25) provides a desired value (nk1sn, nk2sn) for the rotational movement of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) to the one or more permanently attached arms. A washing machine, characterized in that it changes as a function of the actual rotational movement values (n1i, n2i) of (2, 3). Having two permanently attached arms (2, 3), and the evaluation circuit (25) is adapted to the desired value for the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8). Characterized in that the value (nk1sn, nk2sn) is embodied to change as a function of the rotational movement values (n1i, n2i) of the two permanently attached arms (2, 3), The washer according to claim 6. The evaluation circuit (25) is embodied to change a desired value (nk1sn, nk2sn) for the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) according to the following relationship:
nk1sn = (n1i + n2i) / (n1s + n2s) · nk1
n1i and n2i are the measured actual values of the rotational movement values of the two permanently attached arms (2, 3);
n1s and n2s are certain predetermined desired values for the rotational movement value of each of the permanently attached arms (2, 3);
nk1 is embodied to be a constant predetermined desired value which is not changed with respect to the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8). 7. The washing machine according to 7.   The evaluation circuit (25) is configured such that the desired value (nk1sn, nk2sn) for the rotational movement value of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) is permanently attached to the one or more car. Only if the measured rotational movement value (n1i, n2i) of the arm (2, 3) is within a predetermined first tolerance (TB1) with respect to a certain predetermined desired value (n1s, n2s) 9. Washing machine according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it is embodied as modified.   The evaluation circuit (25) determines whether the measured rotational movement values (nk1i, nk2i) of the one or more car rotating arms (7, 8) are related to the changed desired values (nk1sn, nk2sn). Washing machine according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it is embodied to generate an error signal when it is within the second tolerance range (TB2).

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