WO2000049934A1

WO2000049934A1 - Dish washing machine controlled by a mechanical and electronic programmer

Info

Publication number: WO2000049934A1
Application number: PCT/TR2000/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ibrahim Ugurlu; Bülent KÜÇÜKCOŞKUN; Faruk Tan; Ismet Arsan
Original assignee: Arçelik A.Ş.; Karel Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.Ş.
Priority date: 1999-02-23
Filing date: 2000-02-23
Publication date: 2000-08-31
Also published as: AU4163600A; EP1171022A1; TR200102413T2

Abstract

A mechanical programmer (17) in this control is used to control a detergent dispenser valve, regeneration valve, regeneration valve (5), and water inlet valve (3), circulation pump (4), heater (1) and a discharge pump (2). The electronic module (7) used, controls a water meter (13) by generating electrical pulse in proportion with the amount of water passing through it, an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) device (14) used for temperature measurement, and a mechanical programmer (17) to the next step. By means of a switches (9) located on the dishwasher panel, the consumer is enabled to provide access data for an electronic module (7), other than the mechanical programmer; thus the consumer is allowed to use less or more water depending on the type of the dishes intended to be washed and to change the durations. No memory is used in the electronic module (7).

Description

DISH WASHING MACHINE CONTROLLED BY A MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMER

The present invention is related to a dishwashing machine wherein the electrical parts are controlled by a mechanical programmer, whereas the motor of the mechanical programmer, temperature measurement and water intake quantity are controlled by an electronic module without a memory unit.

The washing programme of the dishwashing machines is controlled by three different methods; namely by using the mechanical programmer, the electronic programmer and the mechanical-electronic (hybrid) programmer.

For the dishwashing machines controlled by a mechanical programmer, the durations of the steps forming the washing cycles are determined according to the relationship between the time wheel and the mechanical programmer motor and the durations of the steps forming the washing cycles are selected as the multiple of the smallest time period provided by the time wheel. In the German Patent No. DE 3732452, a water intake method with controlled volume is disclosed. Water intake is realized by first filling water into a water filling tank then into the machine or by determining the amount of pressure occurred after water is directly filled into the machine to control the volume. Measurement of heat is made by means of bimetallic thermostats. In the method wherein water is directly filled into the machine and the amount is determined by measuring the pressure, due to the water intake tolerance being high and the pressure measuring device (manometer) used, the tolerance shows certain variations in the course of time.

In this method, multi-step or different pressure gauges (manometers) are used in order to determine the required amount of water for other washing steps.

In this method, the mould of the time wheel in the mechanical programmer must be changed in order to change the durations of the steps of the washing cycles. For this reason, the user cannot change the durations of the washing cycles. Furthermore as the temperature is measured with bimetallic thermostats and different bimetallic thermostats are required to be used for each different temperature of the washing programme, which in turn leads to enhanced cost and dimensions of the control device.

In the dishwashing machines controlled by the electronic programmer, although this method provides all desired technical properties, its cost is quite high.

In the dishwashing machines, controlled by the mechanical and electronic programmer method, the method is used to the control of the temperature measurement and mechanical programmer motor, by means of an electronic module. Electronic systems are grouped as those with and without memory units. An integrated circuit is used inside the electronic module of an electronic system with a memory unit. When a water intake operation is intended to be performed by means of an electronic module without a memory, in case a power interruption occurs and is restored again during the water intake, as the electronic module does not recover the amount of water taken in until the power is interrupted, it continues to take in water according to the amount determined by the microprocessor and thus more water than the required amount is taken in.

N memory unit is required to avoid this situation and this leads to an extra cost. Furthermore, the synchronisation between the mechanical and electronic programmers is required.

The object of the present invention is to decrease the tolerance and the cost of the water intake system of the dishwashing machines that are controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer. Another object of the present invention is to provide the synchronisation between the mechanical programmer and the electronic programmer without using a memory.

The mechanical and electronic programmer designated in order to attain the objectives of the present invention, are illustrated in the attached drawings; wherein:

Figure 1- is the general electronic circuit diagram Figure 2- is the exploded view of the mechanical programmer.

The components shown in the drawings are enumerated as follows:

(I) Heater (2) Discharge Pump

(3) Inlet Valve

(4) Circulation Pump

(5) Regeneration Valve

(6) Thermal activator (7) Electronic Module

(8) Contact

(9) Switch

(10) Mechanical Programmer Cams

(II) Code Access Data Cams (12) Synchronisation Cams

(13) Water meter

(14) NTC Device

(15) Mechanical Programmer Motor

(16) Mechanical Programmer Time Wheel (17) Mechanical Programmer The mechanical programmer cams (10) provided in the mechanical programmer (17) used, are used for the control of the detergent dispenser valve, regeneration valve (5), water inlet valve (3), circulation pump (4), heater (1) and the discharge pump (2). The code access cams (11) are used to determine the function of each step of the electronic module (7). There is also a synchronisation cam (12), which provides the access data to the electronic module (7), to ensure the synchronisation between the mechanical programmer (17) and the electronic module (7).

The electronic module (7) controls the water meter (13) generating electrical pulse proportional with the amount of water passing through it, the NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) device (14) the resistance of which varies according to temperature changes and is used for temperature measurement, and the mechanical programmer motor (15) that provides the mechanical programmer (17) to proceed to the next step. The electronic module (7) can function variously due to the access data provided by the code access data cams (11) located in the mechanical programmer (17). The functions that correspond to these codes are defined in the microprocessor of the electronic module (7).

During any step of the program, as one or more of the detergent dispenser valve, regeneration valve (5), water inlet valve (3), circulation pump (4), heater (1) and discharge pump (2) are controlled by the cams (10) in the mechanical programmer, the code access data cams (11) transmit the function data to be carried out to the electronic module (7). After the electronic module (7) executes the operations described in its microprocessor in response to the transmitted function data, it activates the mechanical programmer to proceed to the next step, by driving the mechanical programmer motor (15).

The mechanical programmer (17) duration in the program flow (chart), shows the time period required for driving the mechanical programmer motor (15) to proceed the mechanical programmer to the next step (cycle). Although the said period is determined to be 7.5 seconds, it changes due to all cams (10,11 and 12) changing their positions simultaneously or not as a result of the production tolerances of the mechanical programmer (17). This causes problems, particularly when the same codes arrive sequentially. Besides, changing this period shall cause changes in the program steps and in the program flow. For this reason, the synchronisation cam (12) on the mechanical programmer is used as the synchronisation access data for the electronic module (7). When these synchronisation access data change the status as if there is a signal or not, it is perceived as if the next step is started and thus the driving process is completed.

No memory is used in the electronic module (7). Therefore, the problem that may arise due to a power interruption during the water intake step is avoided by dividing the water intake step that is described as a single step in the mechanical programmer (17), into more than one steps in the program loaded to the microprocessor in the electronic module (7). The driving periods of the mechanical programmer motor (15) are determined to be equal between these steps but the amount of water taken in to be different during the divided steps. The water intake amount in the first step is determined to be less than those determined for the next steps. The reason is to minimize the potential water intake error that may occur due to power interruption. A mechanical memory is formed by dividing the water intake step into more steps. Thus, the driving periods of the mechanical programmer motor (15) as well as the water intake quantities can be determined to be equal or different in the program.

The number of steps of the water intake operation, the quantity of water to be taken in at each step and how much the mechanical programmer motor (15) will proceed when the required amount of water is taken in are defined in the microprocessor of the electronic module (7). The water-meter (13) transmits the amount of water taken in to the electronic module (7). The mechanical programmer motor (15) is proceeded by the electronic module (7) as determined before when the required amount of water is taken in. The mechanical programmer cams (10) and code access data cams (11) reach a new step as the mechanical programmer proceeds, the data about the new operation is transmitted to the electronic module (79) by the synchronisation cam (12) and the code access data cams (11).

In case power is interrupted during the water intake step, the electronic module (7) does not recover the point at which the step is interrupted, as it has no memory. But the mechanical programmer (17) is proceeded in parallel with the steps of the electronic module (7). Therefore, the mechanic programmer (17) is proceeded due to the completion ratio of the water intake step and this ratio is kept mechanically. This can be called as a mechanical memory. When the power is restored, the electrical module (7) receives the data, from the positioning of the synchronisation cam (12) and code access data cam (11), that it is still in the water intake step and it starts the water intake step from the beginning. When the determined amount of water is taken in, the mechanical programmer motor (15) proceeds due to the steps defined in the microprocessor. If a new operation is started as the result of the proceeding of the mechanical programmer motor (15), this information is transmitted to the electronic module (7) by means of the synchronisation cam (12) and code access data cams (11) and the water intake is limited with the required amount by the electronic module (7).

The functioning of the mechanical programmer, when the power is interrupted, is illustrated below:

As the water intake procedure is completed, the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor for 7.5 sec. and the total amount of water taken in at the end of this period is 4.5 litres. The water intake procedure in the microprocessor consists of five steps: The first step is specified for a 0.5 Lt water intake and the second, third, fourth and fifth steps, for 1 lt water intake each. The reason of the amount of water intake in the first step being less than the other steps is to minimize the water intake error that may occur due to a power interruption during the water intake step. The microprocessor is programmed so that the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 1.5 sec. after each water intake step. In this case, if the power is interrupted at the fifth step, the electronic module (7) would have driven the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 6 sec. until the fifth step, and the mechanical programmer motor (15) further needs to be driven for 1.5 seconds in order to proceed to the next step. The amount of water taken in is about 3.5 Lt, if the power interruption occurs at the beginning of the fifth step, and is approximately 4.5 Lt if it is interrupted close to the end of the fifth step. When the power is restored, the mechanical programmer is still at the water intake step and transmits the water intake code to the electronic module (7), as the 7.5 sec. period required for the duration of the step is not completed yet. As the electronic module (7) does not recover the previous operations, it processes the code as it is just received. For this reason the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 1.5 sec. in order to complete the 7.5 sec. cycle, after 0.5 Lt water is taken in as required by the first step of the water intake programme as defined in the microprocessor and passes to the next step. In this case the total amount of water taken in will be between 4 and 5 litres, depending on which point of the step the power interruption occurs. If it occurs at the second step, the mechanical programmer motor (15) would be driven for 1.5 sec. by the electronic module (7) and it will require to be driven for 6 sec. more. The amount of water taken in is approximately 0.5 lt. if the power interruption occurs just at the beginning of the second step and if it occurs close to the end of the second step, it is approximately 1.5 lt. when the power is restored, the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 1.5 sec. more after 0.5 Lt water is taken in as required by the first step of the water intake programme as defined in the microprocessor and passes to the next step. In this step the mechanical programmer motor (15) is driven for 3 sec, 1 lt water is taken in during the second step and the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 1.5 sec. and passes to the third step. In this step, the mechanical programmer motor (15) is driven for 4.5 sec. In the third step, 1 Lt water is taken in during the third step, the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 1.5 sec. and passes to the fourth step. In this step, the mechanical programmer motor (15) is driven for 6 sec. 1 Lt water is taken in the fourth step and the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer motor (15) for 1.5 sec. in order to complete the 7.5 sec. cycle; and proceeds to the next step. In this case the total amount of water taken in shall be between 4 to 5 litres, depending on which point of the step the power interruption occurs. Due to the memory provided for the mechanical programmer, the problems that may arise due to the power interruption will be solved, even if the electronic module (7) is without a memory.

The water intake tolerance defined in the above example, wherein the water intake step is defined as more than one sequent steps that are divided into more than one sub-steps in the mechanical programmer, can be improved. For instance, if the water intake programme comprises two steps and five sub-steps each, then it is divided into ten steps. The amount of water taken in during one time power interruption, as defined in the above example, which will be between 4 to 5 litres, shall be realized as between 4.25 to 4,75 litres, due to the two steps and ten sub-steps.

By means of the switches (9) located on the dishwasher panel, the consumer can enter access data into the electronic module (7), other than the mechanical programmer. By using the said switches (9), the consumer can change the function of one of the above defined codes that have been determined by the manufacturer and that are identified in the microprocessor. For example, the consumer can turn the switch (9) on during washing and change the amount of water required for a normal washing cycle to a different amount identified in the microprocessor. Thus the consumer is allowed to use less or more water depending on the type of the dishes. When the consumer turns the switch (9) on during the operation of the machine, the amount of water required for resin regeneration is converted to a different amount identified in the microprocessor or water intake for resin regeneration is cancelled. The consumer changes the hold on period to a different time period identified in the microprocessor, by pressing the switch (9) during the operation. In this way, the consumer can change the selected program to a fast or to an intense programme with longer washing cycles and the washing temperature.

Claims

A dishwashing machine controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer, which consists of the mechanical programmer (17) controlling the water intake valve, and the electronic module (7) that controls the water meter (13) determining the amount of water passing through it, evaluates the signal from the said water meter (13) and controls the mechanical programmer (17) according to the said signal; characterized in that the water intake operation that is divided in the mechanical programmer (17) is divided into more than one step by means of a programme loaded in the microprocessor of the electronic module (7).

2. A dishwashing machine controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer, which consists of the mechanical programmer (17) controlling the water intake valve, and the electronic module (7) that controls the water meter (13) determining the amount of water passing through it, evaluates the signal from the said water meter (13) and controls the mechanical programmer (17) according to the said signal, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the water intake operation and duration, being defined as a step in the mechanical programmer (17) is divided into more than one step, wherein different amounts of water are taken in with equal duration, by means of a programme loaded in the microprocessor of in the electronic module (7).

3. A dishwashing machine controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer, which consists of the mechanical programmer (17) controlling the water inlet valve (3), and the electronic module (7) that controls the water meter (13) determining the amount of water passing through it, evaluates the signal from the said water meter (13) and controls the mechanical programmer (17) according to the said signal, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the water intake operation and duration, being defined as a step in the mechanical programmer (17) is divided into more than one step, wherein different amounts of water are taken in with different duration, by means of a programme loaded in the microprocessor of in the electronic module (7).

4. A dishwashing machine controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer, according to Claim 1-3, characterised by a mechanical memory that is formed by the following procedures so that, when a power interruption occurs and restores during the water intake process, "water intake" command is received from the mechanical programmer (17), that the electronic module (7) starts to re-evaluate the signal received from the water meter (13) by repeating the first water intake step, that at this step, the mechanical programmer (17) is at the position where it is driven by the electronic module (7) depending on the amount of water taken in before the power interruption and that the water intake process is completed by driving the mechanical programmer motor

(15) as much as the number of the divided steps.

5. A dishwashing machine controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer, according to Claims 1-4, characterised in that the amount of water taken in during the first step of the divided water intake operation which is a step in the mechanical programmer (17), is less than the amount of water taken in during the other divided steps with the purpose of minimizing the amount of water that is absolutely required to be taken in by the mechanical programmer (17), when the power is restored after the interruption.

6. A dishwashing machine controlled by the mechanical-electronic programmer, according to Claims 1-5, characterised in that synchronisation is attained by means of the synchronisation cam (12) on the mechanical programmer and when the synchronisation access data change the status, as if there is a signal or not, the electronic module (7) drives the mechanical programmer (17) as much as the period determined for each step, and when the synchronisation access data change the status, it is perceived as if it is proceeded to the next step and driving process is completed.