KR20080000581A - Method for washing shrinkable textiles and a washing machine for carrying out said method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for washing shrinkable textiles in a program-controlled washing machine consisting in washing textiles in a rotatably mounted washing drum according to a process corresponding to textile requirements with a water flow and possibly washing agents, wherein a starting and operating time of a drum driving motor are predefined. A washing machine for carrying out said method is also disclosed. At the beginning of the washing process, the motor operates with a staring time rate which is greater than a possible staring time and which decreases step by step or continuously during the process in order to reduce a mechanical energy applied to the textile according to the shrinkability thereof which strongly increases along with the increase of the washing process time. In such a way, the textile is pre-wetted with an optimal water quantity or soapy solution without producing the excessive textile shrinkage.

Description

METHOD FOR WASHING SHRINKABLE TEXTILES AND A WASHING MACHINE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD

The present invention relates to a method for washing a laundry mass consisting of shrinkable fabrics in a program-controlled washing machine and to a washing machine for performing the method, wherein the washing machine is processed in a process section suitable to meet the requirements of the fabric. While the water and possibly a cleaning agent are operated on the rotatably mounted washing drum when flushed through the washing drum, the power-on time and power-off time of the motor driving the washing drum are pre-formed.

A method for washing wool, a shrinking fabric type, is known from DE 37 03 860 A1. For the method, the washing drum is driven by the motor during the continuous operation and rest phase and the motor accelerates the washing drum during a very short operation phase at a rotational speed of 45 rpm by a ramp, The direction of rotation of the washing drum varies in successive operating steps. The duration of each stop phase is a multiple of the duration of the activation phase.

There is a mechanical load on the fabric so that the shrinkage of the fabric must be reduced as a result of a very short operating step and a specific start-up of the motor. A disadvantage of this method is that even after the combined operating step the fabrics are not completely wetted with water or wash solution and are not sufficiently flushed through cleaning.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention relates to a washing machine for designating a washing method and to carry out the method, which washing the fabric in an initial stage with an optimum amount of water or washing solution during a washing process suitable to meet the requirements of the shrinking fabric. Wet and flush and thus optimize the washing process for shrinking fabrics.

According to the invention, the method described above is carried out such that the ratio of the power-on time to the possible power-on time of the motor becomes smaller and smaller in sequence or continuously during the process section.

In other words, it has been known that the sensitivity to shrinkage of fabrics is, in principle, significantly increased over the duration of handling. It is therefore particularly advantageous to move the fabric relatively vigorously at the beginning of the washing process, as a result of which it is possible to quickly wet and flush the fabric with water or wash solution without causing excessive shrinkage of the fabric. During an additional course of the washing process, the sensitivity to shrinkage increases as a result of increasing the duration of action and possibly increasing the treatment temperature of the water or washing solution. Thus, advantageously for the method according to the invention, the degree of movement of the fabric is reduced by the increase in the washing treatment period corresponding to the increase in sensitivity to shrinkage. As above, the motion of the fabric is reduced by reducing the ratio of the power-on time to the possible power-on time of the motor. This means that the duration of the respective power-on times of the motor is reduced and / or the duration of the respective power-off times during the progress of the washing process is reduced.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rapid wetting of the fabric is advantageously supported, while the washing drum rotates on the side of which the shell of the washing drum arranges a facility for draining water from the lower region of the washing solution container. When the drainage equipment is placed at any position relatively higher than the laundry mass, the drained water is sprinkled onto the laundry. Thus the fabric is not only wetted by the unabsorbed washing solution but also operated on all sides by water or washing solution.

According to the development of the invention as claimed in claim 3 or 5, during the process section the washing drum is rotated entirely in one direction or alternating direction of rotation, as a result. The rearrangement of the fabric in the laundry mass is advantageously implemented so that all wash items are evenly wetted.

When the washing drum rotates at a relatively low rotational speed of 15 rpm to 25 rpm, since the fabric in the washing drum is only slightly lifted from the baffles arranged around the drum shell, if the washing drum is entirely in one rotational direction, For example, rearrangement of the laundry is particularly successful if directly driven by. When the direction of rotation remains the same, the wash items gradually move further and rearrange, with rotation in the opposite direction at the rotational speed moving the wash items back to their original position.

In comparison, when the washing drum is rotated in an alternating rotational direction at a rotational speed of, for example, 25 rpm to 35 rpm, the washing items are additionally lifted by the baffle and dropped from the drum shell back to the base of the washing drum, As a result the laundry is randomly dispensed and thus the laundry mass is redistributed particularly quickly, so that a rapid rearrangement of the washing items in the laundry mass is more preferably implemented.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the washing drum is rotated in the effective direction of the discharge facility. As a result, when the washing drum rotates and when the drainage equipment is placed over the laundry mass, the drainage equipment is optimally filled with water or wash solution and the filled water is sprayed onto the fabric from the drainage equipment.

In a preferred development of the method according to the invention, during the operation of the washing drum with the drainage arrangement including the optimum effect for one direction of rotation, the washing drum is characterized by a power greater than the power-on time ratio in the direction of rotation opposite. It is rotated in the effective direction of the discharge plant, including the ratio of on. As a result of this development, when the washing drum is operated in an alternating rotational direction, the laundry mass can be quickly wetted through optimum utilization of the drainage equipment.

In addition, it is particularly advantageous that the fabric is rapidly wetted and flushed as a result of a power-on time ratio greater than 12% at the beginning of the washing process. Through this embodiment, the movement of the fabrics is achieved at the beginning of the washing process, and water or washing solution is widely penetrated into the fabric. High levels of fabric movement further lead to an active washing mechanism, which is particularly advantageous for cleaning of fabrics.

In order to avoid shrinking the fabric, in a further embodiment of the present invention, a power-on time ratio of less than 5% is selected at the end of the washing process. Especially at the end of the washing process, it is known that the sensitivity to shrinkage is greatly increased due to the preceding and continuing soaking of the fabric, in which case the slight movement of the fabric effectively avoids excessive shrinkage of the fabric. Since the fabric is treated with a high level of motion at the beginning of the washing process, the absolute washing mechanism necessary for cleaning or mechanical energy is ensured despite the slight movement at the end of the washing process and the fabric almost shrinks. Optimal cleaning is achieved.

Furthermore, depending on the design features of the wash solution vessel and / or wash drum, drum rotation with a rotational speed of 15 rpm to 35 rpm is known to be particularly advantageous for all possible embodiments of the method according to the invention. Accurate rotation speed values can be optimized based on geometry, baffle function and preferred direction of rotation.

Correspondingly, depending on the design features of the washing solution vessel and / or the washing drum, the drum movement has proved to be particularly suitable for a pause of 10 to 60 seconds. As a result, the wash solution can operate sufficiently widely on the fabric.

The method according to the invention and the design of a washing machine for carrying out the method will be described in detail below with respect to two example embodiments for the continuous operation of the washing drum during the washing process.

1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a washing solution vessel including a washing drum.

2 is a graph showing the sensitivity to shrinkage as a function of duration of operation on the fabric during the washing process.

3 is a graph depicting power-on time ratio as a function of wash process duration.

4 is a graph illustrating the continuous operation in one direction of the washing drum against the diagram.

5 is a graph showing the operating section of the washing drum according to the invention in an alternate rotational direction with respect to the diagram.

As shown in FIG. 1, a washing machine includes a washing drum 1 and a motor for driving the washing drum 1 in a rotatably mounted washing liquor container 2. Not shown). Three washing baffles 3 are fixed on the inside of the shell of the washing drum 1, and when the washing drum 1 rotates, the washing baffles 3 are washed with a laundry batch 6. Washing items are lifted from the base of the washing drum 1 and subsequently fall back due to gravity. Thus, the washing mechanism necessary for cleaning is provided to the washing items. The degree of washing mechanism or motion provided for the wash items is based on the geometric size of the washing drum 1 and the baffle 3 and also on the rotational speed of the washing drum 1. do. In a preferred embodiment the drum diameter of the washing machine is 50 cm. Other drum diameters are also possible, so that the rotational speed of the drum must be particularly suitable according to the drum diameter in question.

FIG. 2 shows a qualitative graph showing the sensitivity to shrinkage (SE) as a function of washing time (t) during the washing process, for example wool. In this case, the duration (t) or washing time (t) of the washing process is shown on the x-axis of the plot and the sensitivity (SE) to shrinkage is shown on the y-axis. The sensitivity SE to the degree of shrinkage specifies the extent to which the linear expansion of the washing item varies during processing of the item. In this case, the sensitivity SE to the shrinkage degree is specified by indicating the ratio of the current linear expansion to the linear expansion of the item before the washing item processing in percentage.

In addition to the wash time, the shrinkage of the fabric is affected by providing mechanical energy such as the motion of the fabric. Therefore, the power-on time of the motor and the rotational speed parameter of the washing drum 1, which have a significant influence on the fabric motion, should be matched to the sensitivity to the fabric shrinkage (SE). There is a need. In addition to the motion of the fabric, the shrinkage of the fabric is also affected by the medium treatment temperature.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensitivity to shrinkage (SE) is relatively small at the beginning of the washing process since individual fibers have not yet been swollen due to low washing times. slight) Thus, at the beginning of the washing process, fabrics with significant sensitivity to shrinkage can be operated relatively more actively without excessive shrinkage of the fabric as a result of this operation.

According to FIG. 4 or 5, the washing machine has a program-control unit including facilities for controlling the course of the rotational speed of the drum and for controlling the motor.

Assuming that the washing drum 1 according to FIG. 4 is operated in only one rotational direction, the motor is switched on continuously for a period of 12 seconds T_e in phase A and is operated for a period of 48 seconds T_a. Switched off, thus the motor is controlled in such a way that the washing drum 1 rotates at a rotational speed of 22 rpm during the power-on phase. The power-on time ratio (ED) during phase A is thus given by 20% by the formula ED = T_e / (T_e + T_a).

Corresponding to an increase in the sensitivity (ED) to shrinkage shown in FIG. 2, for the method according to FIG. 4, the power-on time (T_e) of the motor decreases to 7.2 seconds in stage B (and 1.8 seconds in stage C). The power-off time T_a is thus extended to 52.8 seconds (and 58.2 seconds in phase C). Thus, in step B, a power-on time ratio (ED) of 12% is obtained, and correspondingly in step C, a power-on time ratio of 3% is obtained. When the method is devised in this way, it has the effect of reducing the mechanical energy supply to the fabric as the sensitivity to shrinkage (SE) is increased and also simultaneously maintaining the total mechanical energy required to clean the fabric. There is. For example, for a method for washing shrinkable fabrics known from the prior art, the washing drum is operated with a uniform power-on time ratio (ED) of 12% during the washing process. The overall mechanical energy applied to the resulting fabric in this case is approximately as large as in the case of the embodiment according to the invention.

For the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 4, the change in power-on time ratio (ED) during the washing process is shown in the graph of FIG. 3 (bold line). In an alternative embodiment, the power-on time ratio ED during the period t of the washing process may be continuously reduced according to the dotted line in FIG. 3.

In addition, the washing drum 1 has a washing baffle 3 as shown in FIG. 1, which wash baffle 3 is provided with an evacuation facility 4 and has a hole on a ridge section. hole (5), when the baffle (3) in the figure reaches the upper position of the laundry mass (6) due to the rotation of the washing drum (1) in the direction of the arrow (7), the hole Water discharged from the lower section of the washing solution container 2 through 5 is sprinkled onto the laundry mass 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the washing drum 1 rotates entirely in the direction of the arrow 7 so that the effectiveness of the drainage equipment is optimally used and all sides of the laundry mass 6 operate with water or washing solution. do. Rapid wetting and flushing of the fabric in the laundry mass 6 is advantageously supported by this means.

According to the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the washing drum 1 rotates in an alternating direction at a rotational speed of +33 rpm or -33 rpm. In this case, the power-on time of the motor at 15 seconds for the rotation of the washing drum 1 in the direction of the arrow 7 shown in FIG. 1 or in the direction of effectiveness of the discharge facility 4 in step A. T_e1 is relatively longer than the power-on time T_e2 at 9 seconds for the rotation of the washing drum 1 in the opposite direction. During phase A, the power-off time T_a1 is 45 seconds and the power-off time T_a2 is 51 seconds. The power-on time ratio ED _ <> of the motor for one direction of rotation is calculated according to the formula ED _ <> = T_e <> / (T_e <> + T_a <>). Thus, the power-on ratio ED_1 of the motor for the rotation of the washing drum 1 in the effective direction of the discharge facility 4 of 25% is relatively higher than the power-on time ratio ED_2 in the opposite rotational direction of 15%. Big. With this selection of the power-on time ratios ED_1, ED_2, it is possible to effectively use the effectiveness of the exhaust installation 4 in spite of the washing drums operating in alternating rotational directions. The power-on time and power-off times T_e1, T_a1, T_e2, and T_a2 are such that the average power-on time ratio for the entire A stage in the second embodiment is 20% as in the first embodiment. Is selected.

The power-on time and power-off time (T_e1, T_a1, T_e2, T_a2) for the motor for the method according to FIG. 5 are summarized in Table 1 below.

Table 1

A step Step B C stage T_e1 15 seconds 9 sec 2.25 T_a1 45 sec 51 seconds 57.75 T_e2 9 sec 5.4 seconds 1.35 T_a2 51 seconds 54.6 seconds 58.65 ED_1 25% 15% 3.75% ED_2 15% 9% 2.25% Average ED 20% 12% 3%

For the method of the invention, the rotational speed of the washing drum 1 and the power-on time and power-off time T_e, T_a for the motor are not limited to the numerical values specified in the two embodiments, It can be varied to take into account the requirements of the fabrics to be treated and the geometric size of the baffle 3 and the washing drum 1 within the claimed range.

Claims (20)

The water and washing agent are operated in a rotatably mounted washing drum when the washing agent is flushed through the washing drum while being processed in a process section suitable to meet the requirements of the fabric, the washing A method for washing a laundry mass consisting of shrinkable fabric in a program-controlled washing machine, wherein the power-on time and power-off time of the motor driving the drum are predefined. Wherein the ratio of power-on time to possible power-on time is getting smaller and smaller step by step or continuously during the process section. The system of claim 1, wherein while the washing drum rotates on a side of which the shell of the washing drum arranges the equipment for discharging water from the lower region of the washing solution container, the discharging equipment is relatively higher than the mass of laundry. When placed in position, the drained water is sprinkled onto the laundry. The method of claim 1, wherein the washing drum is rotated in one direction entirely during the process section. The method of claim 2 wherein the washing drum is rotated in an effective direction of the discharge facility. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the washing drum is rotated in an alternating direction during the process section. 4. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the washing drum is rotated in the effective direction of the discharge installation, with the power-on time ratio in the effective direction being greater than the power-on time ratio in the opposite direction. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor is operated at the beginning of the process section with a power-on time ratio of greater than 12%. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the motor is operated at the end of the process section with a power-on time ratio of less than 5%. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum is rotated in accordance with design features of the washing drum and / or the wash solution vessel at a rotational speed of 15 rpm to 35 rpm. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driving step of the motor comes after an interval of 10 to 60 seconds. A program-controlling unit comprising facilities for preforming a power-on time and a power-off time of a motor for driving a washing drum, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10. A program-controlled washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the motor can be driven at a ratio of power-on time to possible power-on time which becomes smaller and smaller in sequence or continuously during the process section. 12. The system of claim 11, comprising a wash solution vessel, wherein a wash drum is rotatably mounted within the wash solution vessel, the wash drum comprises a baffle on the inside of the shell of the wash drum, and the baffle is a wash solution. And a facility for draining water from the lower region of the container and for sprinkling the drained water when the drainage equipment is placed in any position higher than the laundry mass. 12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the washing drum is rotated entirely in one direction during the process section. 13. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the rotational direction of the washing drum corresponds to the effective direction of the discharge facility. 12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the washing drum is rotated in an alternating direction during the process section. 13. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the washing drum is rotated in the effective direction of the discharge facility, with the power-on time ratio in the effective direction being greater than the power-on time ratio in the opposite direction. 17. The washing machine according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the motor is operated at the beginning of the process section with a power-on time ratio of greater than 12%. 18. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the motor is operated at the end of the process section with a power-on time ratio of less than 5%. 19. The washing machine according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the drum is rotated in accordance with design features of the washing drum and / or the wash solution container at a rotational speed of 15 rpm to 35 rpm. 20. The washing machine according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the driving step of the motor has an interval of 10 seconds to 60 seconds.

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