RU2634578C2 - Method for washing machine operation providing reduced content of residual moisture in laundry and washing machine suitable for method implementation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: human vital needs satisfaction.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method for laundry (7) rinsing in a washing machine with a control device (12) to control the sequence of program execution, with a drum (2) pivotally mounted in the washing solution tank (1) with a heating device (13 ), a pump (16) and a drive motor (14) for the drum (2), according to which, at the end of the washing phase, in the rinsing phase with one or more rinsing operations, at least at the last rinsing step after the last portion of the rinsing water is added to the tank (1) for the washing solution and the laundry (7) is rinsed, (a) the pump (16) is turned on and the free solution (6) is evacuated from the detergent solution tank (1); (b) then the pump (16) is switched off and when the pump (16) is off, the drum (2) is driven at a speed of ω1, in order to reduce the moisture content of the wet laundry (7) obtained as a result of the operation (a) and to receive water thus separated in the washing solution tank (1), so that for the quantity q of water in the washing solution tank (1), the ratio q=qcol is correct; (c) if the quantity qcol of water received in step (b) is less than qset, the washing solution tank (1) is filled with water from the water supply system (8, 9) until the quantity q of water in the washing solution tank (1), the ratio q≥qset becomes correct; (d) the amount q of water in the washing solution tank (1) for the washing solution is heated to a predetermined temperature Tset; (e) the water heated during operation (d) is distributed in the laundry (7); and (f) the drum (2) is driven at a speed of ω2 to separate the heated water distributed in the laundry (7) during operation (e), from the laundry (7) and pump it out.

EFFECT: method improvement.

14 cl, 1 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a method of operating a washing machine, providing a reduced residual moisture content, as well as to a washing machine, particularly suitable for implementing this method.

State of the art

EP 2246469 A1 shows a washing machine that includes a rotatable drum, a tank in which the drum is located, and a circulation pump for pumping water from the tank discharge area through the circulation pipe back to the tank.

The automatic washing program in a washing machine with a drum rotated in the washing solution tank generally has a rinse phase with several centrifugation operations after the wetting and washing phases. With the last centrifugation operation, as much water as possible should be removed from the laundry so that the laundry that was washed and possibly the conditioner-treated laundry removed from the washing machine was not wet. In particular, it is desirable that the amount of residual moisture still contained in the laundry after the centrifugation cycle, often also called “residual moisture after spinning”, is as small as possible. This is usually achieved by good separation of water by centrifugation with a high speed of rotation of the drum. In this case, water is squeezed out of the laundry by centrifugal force through the drainage holes of the drum to the outside, in the gap between the drum and the washing solution tank, where it ideally flows into the lower part of the washing solution tank - an area that includes a heating device, also referred to as heater pocket. Then it is possible to pump this water out of the heater pocket for its removal or disposal.

With the known methods, after the last centrifugation operation, a relatively high residual moisture still remains in the laundry.

EP 2390397 A1 discloses a method for performing a washing cycle and a subsequent drying cycle in a washer-dryer with a heat pump, in which at least one last rinse phase of the washing cycle is carried out using heated water in order to increase the temperature inside the washing solution tank. Thereby, it is reported that the problem of inefficient operation during the initial stage of the drying cycle, which arises due to the fact that the heat pump system needs a certain time to reach the equilibrium state, has been solved. By rinsing with heated water, the temperature inside the washing solution tank and the drum is relatively high, so that the initial heat transfer in the heat pump evaporator rises. As a result, the time to reach the preferred equilibrium state during operation of the heat pump should be reduced. Heating of water is possible by means of a heating device, usually available in the washing machine, or additional hot water supply or a renewable energy source, such as solar energy. The temperature of the heated water may be between 40 and 80 ° C.

Patent document EP 2503048 A1 describes a method of washing in a washing machine, as well as a corresponding washing machine. The method includes the heating phase between the rinse phase and the centrifugation cycle, in which the laundry is heated, its ability to retain water should decrease due to a decrease in the surface tension of the water in the laundry, as well as due to the elongation of the fibers, so that at the end of the centrifugation cycle linen with reduced residual moisture. To do this, it is possible to heat water that moisturizes the laundry. The heating phase preferably includes direct heating of the laundry, particularly preferably heating by infrared radiation.

However, these known methods still require a relatively large amount of water and energy.

Disclosure of invention

Therefore, against such a background, the object of the present invention is to provide such a method of rinsing the laundry, improved from the point of view of water and / or energy consumption, which makes it possible to obtain, after the final centrifugation cycle, a slight residual moisture of the washed and wrung laundry. In addition, an object of the invention is to provide a washing machine particularly well suited for this.

The solution to this problem according to this invention is achieved by a method of rinsing the laundry in a washing machine having the features of the corresponding independent claim, as well as the washing machine according to the corresponding independent point. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention are given in the respective dependent clauses. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of the washing machine according to the invention, even if this is not explicitly indicated here.

Thus, the subject of the invention is a method for rinsing laundry in a washing machine with a control device for controlling the sequence of the program, with a drum mounted to rotate in the tank for washing solution, with a heating device, a pump and a drive motor for the drum, according to which, upon completion of the phase washing, in the rinse phase with one or more rinsing operations, at least in the last rinse operation after adding the last portion of the wash water into the tank for washing solution and rinsing the laundry

(a) turn on the pump and pump out the free solution in the washing solution tank;

(b) the pump is then turned off and, with the pump turned off, the drum is set in motion with a speed of ω1 to reduce the moisture content of the wet laundry obtained in step (a) and to receive the water allocated therewith in the washing solution tank, so that for the quantity q of water in the tank for the washing solution is really the ratio q = q _col ;

(c) if the quantity q _{col of} water received during operation (b) is less than qset, the tank for the washing solution is filled with water from the water supply system until the quantity q of water in the tank for washing solution becomes fair q≥qset ratio;

(d) the amount q of water in the washing solution tank is heated to a predetermined temperature Tset;

(e) water heated during operation (d) is dispensed in the laundry; and

(f) the drum is driven at a speed of ω2 to separate the heated water distributed in the laundry in step (e) from the laundry and pumping it out.

The pumping out to operation (a) is preferably carried out until the pump supply is reduced to 10%, in particular to 8%, and particularly preferably to 5% of its initial p _init value.

Alternatively or in addition to this, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, pumping out to operation (a) is carried out until the pump recognizes the beginning of the transportation of the air-gas mixture. This is usually due to relatively large fluctuations in the feed value.

With this pumping out, a free solution is discharged, i.e. a liquid that is not bound by laundry.

The wet laundry located in the drum after pumping out the free solution may contain still too much water, and “too much” here means that the laundry binds more water than is required for subsequent heating of the laundry in step (d). Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the method during operation (a1), light centrifugation is carried out by means of a drum with the pump turned on. Moreover, during operation (a1), the drum (2) is preferably driven for a period of not more than one minute with a rotation speed ω of at most 500 rpm.

In the method according to the invention, the heating of the laundry is carried out in order to reduce the water retention capacity of the laundry. In this case, the set temperature Tset in the General case is in the range from 40 to 95 ° C. It is possible to select the appropriate value of the set temperature Tset in this area depending on the type and amount of laundry.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the method, a certain relationship between the predetermined amount qset of water and the load amount Ww of laundry is set in the control device of the used washing machine. Moreover, in the general case, the quantity qset of water is less, the smaller the load amount Ww of laundry.

It is possible to automatically determine the loaded amount of Ww in a known manner or set by the user of the washing machine. According to the invention, the amount of laundry loaded into the drum is preferably determined in the wetting phase based on a change in the signal of the pressure sensor. To do this, it is preferable to add water during the wetting phase during the rotation of the drum, and at a given moment t1 during the implementation of the method, the rotation of the drum and its filling with water are stopped and the change in the signal of the pressure sensor is evaluated to determine the loading amount.

In the method according to the invention, water substantially already used for rinsing is heated and used to heat the laundry. It is possible to heat water produced in various ways. In a preferred embodiment, heating during step (d) is carried out using a heating device to heat the washing solution present in the washing solution tank. In this case, before operation (d), the minimum quantity q _{reg of} water required for the operation of the heating device is usually set.

In the method according to the invention during step (c), if the quantity qcol of water received during step (b) is less than qset, the tank for the washing solution is filled with water from the water supply system until, for the quantity q of water in the tank for a washing solution, q≥qset will not be fair. The water supply system includes, in particular, valves at the point of connection of water to the domestic water supply network and a two-way valve with electric control. The water supply is preferably controlled in such a way that the condition (1.1 × qset) ≥q≥qset is fulfilled for the quantity q of water in the washing solution tank.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, during the operation (e) or during the operation (f) or between the operation (e) and the operation (f), the temperature Tw of the water is measured to fix sufficient heating of the laundry.

For this, for example, during operation (f), the drum is set in motion with a speed of ω2 with the pump turned off until there is sufficient q _check water in the tank for the washing solution to measure the temperature Tw of the squeezed water. After that, in the general case, if Tw remains below a predetermined temperature T ^set w, operations (b) to (f) are again performed.

If control of heating the laundry is not required, then, in a further preferred embodiment, first turn on the pump by operation (f) and then drive the drum with a speed of ω2.

According to the invention, the method is not only preferable to achieve a minimum residual moisture while further reducing water consumption and / or energy consumption. It is also possible, in particular, to use it for disinfection or bactericidal treatment, when the laundry in the washing machine is washed at a relatively low temperature of the washing solution.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, operations (a) to (f) are performed after the washing phase carried out at a temperature of at most 30 ° C.

In step (d), the fill level is usually measured. If it does not reach a certain value, then the condition q≥qset, as a rule, is not fulfilled. Recognition of the filling level is possible, for example, by analyzing the hydrostatic pressure data in the washing solution tank, if a pressure sensor is located in it. Instead, or in addition to this, it is possible to evaluate the electric power of the drive motor from the point of view of the degree of filling with water, since with increasing levels in the tank for the washing solution, the electric performance of the drive motor increases.

Therefore, it is preferable to verify the fulfillment of the condition q≥qset by determining the quantity q of water in the washing solution tank by measuring and analyzing the hydrostatic pressure in the washing solution tank or measuring and analyzing the electric power data of the drive motor.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the water heated in step (d) is supplied to the laundry by means of a spray device (“water spray device”), in which the water outlet is directed to the inner wall of the drum.

The opportunity for this is provided by the inlet of water into the drum through a spray device, made, in particular, in the sealing cuff of the washing machine. For directed wetting of laundry, it is possible to implement a spray device with a multichannel or use a nozzle optimized in hydrodynamic terms.

The warm water supplied to the laundry, preferably sprayed directly onto the laundry, is preferably accelerated in the method according to the invention on a ring consisting of the laundry adjacent to the inner wall of the drum, and passed through the laundry under the influence of centrifugal forces acting on the water. As a result of this, it is possible to warm the laundry particularly well with warm water in order to effectively reduce the force holding the water in the laundry (here also called the “water holding ability”).

Depending on the number of revolutions of the drum, the amount of water used and the qualities of the corresponding batch of laundry, as well as its location on the inner lining of the drum, it is possible for warm water used in the method according to the invention to flow through the laundry not in the direct radial direction, but partially through the formed channels or holes in the laundry. As a result of this, it may turn out that some sections of the laundry brought in the water well moisturizes and thereby washes well, i.e. heats them, while others, on the contrary, are less good.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, operation (e) includes a reversal cycle in which the drum rotates at a speed below 60 rpm (“revolutions per minute”), preferably below 50 rpm and particularly preferably below 40 rpm min

In addition, the subject of the invention is a washing machine with a control device for controlling the sequence of the program, with a drum mounted to rotate in the tank for washing solution, with a heating device, a pump and a drive motor for the drum, in which, at the end of the washing phase, in phase rinse with one or more rinse operations, at least in the last rinse operation after adding the last portion of washing water to the tank for washing solution and weeding skivaniya linen.

(a) turn on the pump and pump out the free solution located in the tank for the washing solution;

(b) the pump is then turned off and, with the pump turned off, the drum is set in motion with a speed of ω1 to reduce the moisture content of the wet laundry obtained as a result of operation (a) and to receive the water allocated therewith in the washing solution tank, so that for the quantity q of water in the tank for the washing solution, the ratio q = qcol is valid;

(c) if the quantity q _{col of} water received during operation (b) is less than qset, the tank for the washing solution is filled with water from the water supply system until the quantity q of water in the tank for washing solution becomes fair q≥qset ratio;

(d) the amount q of water in the washing solution tank is heated to a predetermined temperature Tset;

(e) water heated during operation (d) is dispensed in the laundry; and

(f) the drum is driven at a speed of ω2 to separate the heated water distributed in the laundry in step (e) from the laundry and pumping it out.

In a preferred embodiment, the washing machine has a spray device with which water is heated on the laundry during operation (d).

An advantage of the invention is that it allows to economically achieve a reduction in the residual moisture of the laundry after the washing process and subsequent centrifugation in the washing machine. Along with saving water, saving energy is also possible. In addition, this invention makes it possible to achieve lower residual moisture, i.e. residual moisture after centrifugation, with less significant mechanical stress. Finally, the invention allows even in the case of washing at low temperature through the so-called set of operations to rinse and spin, carried out at elevated temperatures, ultimately to achieve the destruction of microorganisms. In this case, we can also talk about a complex of hygienic rinsing operations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below the invention is illustrated in more detail on the basis of figure 1.

The implementation of the invention

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a washing machine in which the implementation of the method according to the invention is possible. Other options are acceptable. The washing machine of FIG. 1 has a washing solution tank 1 in which a drum 2 rotatably placed by a drive motor 14 is placed. The rotation axis 3 of the drum 2 is directed at a slight angle (for example, 13 °) up and down from the horizontal, so it is easier to access to the inside of drum 2 and see it. In addition, due to this design, in combination with the grippers 4 for laundry and scoops 5 for washing solution or warm water 6, a more intensive passage of washing solution or warm water 6 through the laundry is achieved on the inner surface of the drum casing 7. The scoops 5 of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1, are designed so that they optimally scoop up water when the direction of rotation of the drum 2 to the right, shown here by arrow 17.

In addition, the washing machine has a washing solution supply system, which includes fittings for the water connection to the domestic water supply network 8, a two-way valve 9 with electric control and a supply 10 to the washing solution tank 1, which can also be carried out through the washing device 11 detergent ("wash tray"), if any, from where in the washing phase it is possible to transport portions of the detergent to the detergent solution tank 1 by means of inlet water. In addition, a heating device 13 is located in the tank 1 for the washing solution. For the two-way valve 9, as well as for the heating device 13, it is possible to control them by means of a control device 12 depending on the sequence of implementation, which is aligned with the time characteristics of the program and / or achievement certain values when measuring the parameters of the washing machine, such as the level of the washing solution, the temperature of the washing solution, the number of revolutions of the laundry drum, etc. In particular, the control device 12 is adapted to implement the method according to the invention with operations (a) to (f). For example, by means of a control device, it is possible to control during operation (c) filling the tank with water up to the fulfillment of the condition q≥qset. After appropriate data analysis, it is possible to properly control, for example, a heater, a drive motor and a pump by means of a control device 12.

In addition, in an embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is possible to take into account the load amount of laundry, for example, using the ratio between the load amount of linen and the amount of water set in the control device 12, with respect to the total amount of water used in operation (d).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tank 1 for the washing solution is equipped with a water spray device 18, which is made in such a way that it can be used to purposefully spray water heated during operation (d) onto the laundry 7, which is located on the inner skin 19 of the drum 2. At the same time, it is warm water exits from the water outlet 20. The supply of the water spray device 18 is possible using a three-way valve 21 with electric control, which is configured to switch so that the liquid in the tank 1 for the washing solution is transported either to the water spray device 18 or to the sewage pipe 22.

In FIG. 1, the number 15 designates a pressure sensor for measuring the hydrostatic pressure p in the tank 1 for the washing solution. Hydrostatic pressure p is created by the level of water filling the tank. The signals of the drive motor 14, the pressure sensor 15 and the temperature sensor 23 are supplied to the control device 12. Using the temperature sensor 23, it is possible, in particular, to determine whether heating the laundry 7 is sufficient or the operations (b) to (f) of the method according to the invention must be carried out again.

After the heated water is distributed in the laundry 7 using a water spray device 18 and with a reversal cycle in which the drum rotates at a speed below 60 rpm, preferably below 50 and particularly preferably below 40 rpm, in the last centrifugation operation at turned on the pump 16 pump it out. The result is laundry with reduced residual moisture.

Designation List

1. tank for cleaning solution

2. drum

3. axis of rotation

4. laundry grip

5. scooper

6. (warm) water; free solution

7. linen

8. fittings of the place of connection to the domestic water supply network

9. two-way valve with electric control

10. supply to the tank for washing solution

11. detergent washer

12. control device

13. heating device

14. drive motor

15. pressure sensor

16. pump

17. optimal direction of rotation for scoop tool

18. water spray device

19. inner lining of the drum

20. water outlet

21. three-way valve with electric control

22. sewage pipe

23. temperature sensor

Claims (26)

1. The method of rinsing the laundry (7) in a washing machine with a control device (12) for controlling the sequence of the program, with a drum (2) installed with the possibility of rotation in the tank (1) for the washing solution, with a heating device (13), a pump (16) and a drive motor (14) for the drum (2), according to which, at the end of the washing phase, in the rinse phase with one or more rinsing operations, at least in the last rinse operation after adding the last portion of the washing water to the tank (1) for washing solution ora and rinsing of linen (7); (a) turn on the pump (16) and pump out the free solution (6) located in the tank (1) for the washing solution; (b) then the pump (16) is turned off and with the pump (16) turned off, the drum (2) is set in motion with a speed of ω1 to reduce the moisture content of the wet laundry (7) obtained as a result of operation (a) and to receive the water released in the tank (1) for the washing solution, so for the quantity q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution the ratio q = q _{col is} valid; (c) if the quantity q _{col of} water received during operation (b) is less than qset, the tank (1) for the washing solution is filled with water from the water supply system (8, 9) until, for the quantity q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution, the ratio q≥qset does not become valid, moreover, qset represents a predetermined quantity q of water; (d) wherein checking the condition q≥qset is carried out by determining the amount q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution by measuring and analyzing data on the hydrostatic pressure in the tank (1) for the washing solution and / or measuring and analyzing data on the electric power of the drive engine (14), the amount q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution being heated to a predetermined temperature Tset; (e) the water heated during step (d) is dispensed in the laundry (7); and (f) the drum (2) is driven with a rotational speed ω2 of the centrifuge to separate the heated water distributed in the laundry (7) in operation (e) from the laundry (7) and pump it out. 2. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the pumping during operation (a) is carried out until the pump (16) is reduced to 10% of its initial value p _init . 3. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the pumping during operation (a) is carried out until the pump (16) does not recognize the beginning of the transportation of the air-gas mixture. 4. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that when the pump (16) is turned on, light centrifugation (a1) is carried out by means of the drum (2), moreover, during operation (a1), the drum (2) is set in motion for a period of no more one minute with a rotation speed of ω no more than 500 rpm. 5. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the predetermined temperature Tset is in the range from 40 to 95 ° C. 6. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the control device (12) sets the relationship between the specified amount qset of water and the loaded amount Ww of laundry, and for smaller values of the amount Ww of loaded laundry, the quantity qset of water is less. 7. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the heating during step (d) is carried out using a heating device (13) for heating the washing solution available in the tank (1) for the washing solution. 8. The method according to p. 7, characterized in that before the operation (d) set the minimum amount q _{reg of} water necessary for the operation of the heating device (13). 9. The method according to one of paragraphs. 1-8, characterized in that during operation (e) or during operation (f) or between operation (e) and operation (f) measure the temperature Tw of water to determine sufficient heating of the linen. 10. The method according to p. 9, characterized in that during operation (f) the drum (2) is set in motion with a speed of ω2 with the pump (16) turned off until there is no detergent in the tank (1) there is a quantity q _{check of} water sufficient to measure the temperature Tw of the extracted water. 11. The method according to p. 10, characterized in that if the Tw value is below a predetermined temperature T ^set w, operations from (b) to (f) are performed again. 12. The method according to one of paragraphs. 1-8, characterized in that during operation (f), first turn on the pump (16), and then drive the drum (2) with the number of revolutions ω2 of the centrifuge. 13. The method according to one of paragraphs. 1-8, 10, 11, characterized in that the operations from (a) to (f) are carried out after the washing phase, performed at a temperature not exceeding 30 ° C. 14. A washing machine with a control device (12) for controlling the sequence of the program, with a drum (2) mounted for rotation in the tank (1) for the washing solution, with a heating device (13), a pump (16) and a drive motor ( 14) for the drum (2), characterized in that the control device (12) is configured to implement a method of rinsing the laundry (7), according to which, at the end of the washing phase, in the rinse phase with one or more rinsing operations, at least at the last operations rinse after adding the last portion of washing water to the tank (1) for the washing solution and rinsing the laundry (7): (a) turn on the pump (16) and pump out the free solution (6) located in the tank (1) for the washing solution; (b) then the pump (16) is turned off and with the pump (16) turned off, the drum (2) is set in motion with a speed of ω1 to reduce the moisture content of the wet laundry (7) obtained as a result of operation (a) and to receive the water released in the tank (1) for the washing solution, so for the quantity q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution the ratio q = q _{col is} valid; (c) if the quantity q _{col of} water received during operation (b) is less than qset, the tank (1) for the washing solution is filled with water from the water supply system (8, 9) until, for the quantity q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution, the ratio q≥qset does not become valid, moreover, qset represents a predetermined quantity q of water; (d) wherein checking the condition q≥qset is carried out by determining the amount q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution by measuring and analyzing data on the hydrostatic pressure in the tank (1) for the washing solution and / or measuring and analyzing data on the electric power of the drive engine (14), the amount q of water in the tank (1) for the washing solution being heated to a predetermined temperature Tset; (e) the water heated during step (d) is dispensed in the laundry (7); and (f) the drum (2) is driven with a rotational speed ω2 of the centrifuge to separate the heated water distributed in the laundry (7) in operation (e) from the laundry (7) and pump it out.

Images