WO2010133510A1

WO2010133510A1 - A horizontal axis washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2010133510A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/056631
Authority: WO
Inventors: Omer Akbas; Kerem Erenay; Levent Hasanreisoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2009-05-22
Filing date: 2010-05-13
Publication date: 2010-11-25
Also published as: EP2432927B1; EP2432927A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a horizontal axis washing machine (1) comprising a body (2), a drum which is disposed inside the body (2), rotates in the horizontal axis and wherein items to be washed are placed, and a tub (3) wherein the drum rotates; and wherein the amount of water to counterbalance the unbalanced load and minimize its effect is continuously delivered to the desired place in the case of an unbalanced load.

Description

A HORIZONTAL AXIS WASHING MACHINE

[0001] The present invention relates to a horizontal axis washing machine wherein the unbalanced load within the drum is balanced by using a fluid.

[0002] In washing machines, the laundry is placed inside a drum that rotates preferably around a horizontal axis. In different steps of the washing program, the laundry is cleaned with water and detergent by rotating the drum at different speeds. While the drum is being rotated, the laundry is not distributed homogeneously inside the drum, causing an uneven distribution of the laundry by piling up in some regions. Particularly in the spinning step wherein the drum is rotated at very high speeds, the uneven distribution of the load generates vibrations. These vibrations not only generate noise and result in user dissatisfaction, but also cause the machine to wear out. Furthermore, the spinning performance at high speeds is adversely affected.

[0003] In the state of the art, various solutions have been developed for balancing the unbalanced load. Of these, a widely used solution is adding immovable weights to the washing machine, thereby increasing its inertia. However, since the immovable weights make the transportation of the machine difficult, in some of the state of the art embodiments, adding fluid, mostly water, to the washing machine is suggested. Water is filled in the receptacles fixed on the tub or the drum. In a group of embodiments, the fluid is added to the washing machine after the transportation and the same fluid is used continually. In another group of embodiments, the fluid needed for balancing is received into the washing machine while the machine is operating, and discharged at the end of the operation. Furthermore, in the state of the art, the tub wherein also the drum is situated is suspended from above by means of springs and supported from below by means of pistons, thereby held in suspended position inside the body. Thus, the effect of vibrations resulting from the movement of the drum and the tub on the washing machine body is tried to be minimized. However, in washing machines wherein damper systems consisting of elements such as spring and piston are used, the sensors (detectors) that will be placed on the legs or around the damper system are adversely affected both by the damper behavior and by the forces that can come from the outside of the washing machine.

[0004] In the state of the art Swiss Patent Application No CH651602, the tub is seated inside a framework that is suspended in the casing. The weight of the tub is measured by the sensor situated between the protrusions extending from the sides of the tub, and the framework.

[0005] In the state of the art United States of America Patent No US5906020, the washing chamber is supported on a support structure in the body. The vibrations in the washing chamber connected to the supports by means of upright members are detected by piezoelectric sensors.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a horizontal axis washing machine wherein the load and the unbalanced load are detected effectively.

[0007] The horizontal axis washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises holders which are assembled to both side walls of the body and extend in parallel to each other in the horizontal axis, at least one bearer each, which is located at both sides of the tub such that it will remain on the holders on the same vertical plane, and at least one chock each, which is located between the holder and the bearer such that it will contact the holder and the bearer, and at least one weight sensor each, which is connected to the chock.

[0008] Thus, the tub is carried without using damper and spring system, and by the data that is received from the weight sensor disposed between the holder and the bearer, the weight of the laundry disposed in the tub and the unbalanced load are detected. The tub with the drum in it stays on the holders fixed to both sides of the body. Thus, the entire load of the tub, drum and laundry inside the drum is carried by means of the holders. In this situation, the forces that will act on the washing machine from the outside - such as items placed on the washing machine, not placing the washing machine on a flat ground - are prevented from affecting the weight sensor. The washing time, wash water, washing movement, amount of detergent and so on will be determined by means of the load determined by the weight sensor, and in the spinning process, the amount of unbalanced load will be determined and the balancing process will be provided.

[0009] The holder is located along both side walls of the body and the bearer is fixed to the wall of the tub such that it will be in the same vertical alignment as the holder.

[0010] The chock, which is fixed on the bearer and enables the force to be transmitted to the weight sensor, is disposed between the holder and the bearer. The chock serves as a kind of damper and spring that are not used in the washing machine of the present invention. Thus, not the weight of the washing machine body but only the weight of the tub and the drive system such as motor connected thereto is transmitted to the weight sensor, and the weight sensor is enabled to perform measurements without being affected by the weights placed on the body.

[0011] The weight sensor is disposed into the casing and a pressure element is used which is guided by the casing in order that the weight of the tub and all the elements connected to it can be completely transmitted to the weight sensor, and which only moves up and down and is fixed to the chock.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the weight sensor is disposed at both sides of the tub such that the one at one side will be in the front and the one at the other side will be in the back.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, there are 4 weight sensors and a pair of them each is disposed such that two weight sensors will be situated at the sides of the tub as one being in front of the other.

[0014] By means of the present invention, the tub is assembled to the washing machine without a damper and piston. Thus, since the weight sensor measures the weight of the tub only together with the elements connected to it, the weights on the body are prevented from affecting the measurement result.

[0015] A washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0016] Figure 1 - is the sideways view of a washing machine.

[0017] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the washing machine.

[0018] Figure 3 - is the cross-sectional view of a chock.

[0019] Figure 4 - is the cross-sectional view of a casing, a pressure element and a weight sensor. [0020] Figure 5 - is the sideways view of the pressure element and the chock fixed thereon, together with the casing. [0021] Figure 6 - is the cross-sectional view of the pressure element and the chock fixed thereon, together with the casing. [0022] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Body

3. Tub

4. Holder

5. Bearer

6. Weight sensor

7. Chock

8. Casing

9. Pressure element

10. Housing

11. Pin

12. Support means

[0023] The washing machine (1) of the present invention is a horizontal axis washing machine (1 ) wherein the amount of water to counterbalance the unbalanced load and minimize its effect is continuously delivered to the desired place in the case of an unbalanced load, comprising a body (2), a drum disposed inside the body (2), rotating in the horizontal axis, wherein items to be washed are emplaced and a tub (3) wherein the drum rotates.

[0024] The washing machine (1), furthermore, comprises

• at least two holders (4) which are assembled oppositely to both side walls of the body (2) such that they will extend in parallel to each other in the horizontal axis,

• at least two bearers (5) which are fixed to both sides of the tub (3) such that they will remain on the same vertical plain as the holders (4), and which provide the tub (3) to be carried by means of the holder (4) by being seated onto the holder (4), and

• at least two chocks (7) which are disposed between the holders (4) and the bearers (5) such that they will contact the holder (4) and the bearer (5), and

• at least two weight sensors (6) which are disposed between the chocks (7) and the holders (4) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

[0025] Both static and dynamic load is detected by the weight sensor (6). The washing machine (1) comprises a control card that evaluates the data received by the weight sensor (6) and provides the amount of load and of unbalanced load to be determined.

[0026] The holder (4) is fixed to the surface, which faces the tub (3), of both side walls of the body (2) along the side wall, in parallel to the rotational axis of the drum extending in the horizontal axis. The holder (4) is located higher than the bottom of the tub (3) and lower than the top thereof, preferably around the diameter level of the tub (3).

[0027] The bearer (5) fixed to the tub (3) extends from the tub (3) surface towards the body (2) side wall such that it will be in the same vertical alignment as the holder (4).

[0028] The washing machine (1), furthermore, comprises a chock (7) that is located between the holder (4) and the bearer (5), and fixed onto the bearer (5) and that applies force on the weight sensor (6). On the chock (7), a support means (12) preferably made of metal material is fixed below and above the chock (7) in order to increase the endurance of the chock (7) (Figure 3). By means of the chock (7) remaining between the holder (4) and the bearer (5), not the weight of the washing machine (1 ) body (2) but only the weight of the tub (3) and the drive system such as motor connected thereto is transmitted to the weight sensor (6) and thus, the weight sensor (6) is enabled to perform measurements without being affected by the weights placed on the body (2).

[0029] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight sensor (6) (load cell) is a compression-type weight sensor (6). The compression-type weight sensors (6) are structures that supply output at millivolt level according to the load change, and the measurement is performed by bringing the output values, which vary depending on the load, to a value level, wherein the control card will easily operate, by means of an amplifier.

[0030] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a casing (8) wherein the weight sensor (6) is disposed, and a pressure element (9) which moves inside the casing (8) and thus, enables the force to be transmitted to the weight sensor (6) by means of the chock (7) fixed to the bearer (5) (Figure 4). While the casing (8) is fixed to the holder (4) from below, the pressure element (9) is fixed on the chock (7) from above. The casing (8) virtually guides the pressure element (9) entering therein, and by means of the bearer (5), the force acting on the pressure element (9) is provided to be vertically transmitted onto the weight sensor (6). The washing machine (1) comprises a housing (10) which is located oppositely on the casing (8) and the pressure element (9), and a pin (11) which is mounted to this housing (10) and thus, prevents the casing (8) and the pressure element (9) from being separated from each other. The pin (11) prevents the pressure element (9) both from rotating inside the casing (8) and from being detached from the casing (8) in the vertical direction (Figure 5 and Figure 6). Furthermore, a hole, through which the cables providing the electrical connection between the control card and the weight sensor (6) pass, is situated on the casing (8).

[0031] Disposing the weight sensor (6) between the casing (8) and the pressure element (9) is performed as follows: The weight sensor (6) is disposed into the casing (8) and the weight sensor (6) is completely seated on the casing (8) base. The pressure element (9) is inserted into the casing (8) such that it will push on the weight sensor (6), and the pressure element

(9) is already seated in the casing (8) when the pressure element (9) bears against the weight sensor (6). The pressure element (9) and the housings

(10) on the casing (8) are aligned at the same level and the pin (11) is passed through these overlapping housings (10). In this situation, the pressure element (9) and the weight sensor (6) are prevented from moving inside the casing (8) and from being detached from the casing (8).

[0032] All static and dynamic loads in the tub (3) are measured by the weight sensors (6). By means of the measured static load, the user will be informed and the washing parameters will be able to be adjusted. On the other hand, the amount and distribution of load is of importance during spinning. By means of the weight sensors (6), the amount of unbalanced load is determined by the amplitudes of the sinusoidal signals generated during spinning and thus, active balancing can be performed by the other unbalanced load detection methods.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the weight sensor (6) is disposed at both sides of the tub (3) such that the one at one side will be in the front and the one at the other side will be in the back.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, there are 4 weight sensors (6) and each two weight sensors (6) are disposed at both sides of the tub (3) as one being in front of the other.

[0035] By means of the present invention, using weight sensors (6) is facilitated compared to washing machines (1) wherein damper/spring system is used. By means of the weight sensors (6), both the static and dynamic loads are detected and the detection losses encountered in the damper/spring system are prevented.

[0036] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention, too.

Claims

1. A horizontal axis washing machine (1) comprising a body (2), a drum which rotates in the horizontal axis, is disposed inside the body (2) and wherein the items to be washed are placed, and a tub (3) wherein the drum rotates, characterized by

- at least two holders (4) which are assembled oppositely to both side walls of the body (2) such that they will extend in parallel to each other in the horizontal axis,

- at least two bearers (5) which are fixed to both sides of the tub (3) such that they will remain on the same vertical plain as the holders (4), and which provide the tub (3) to be carried by means of the holder (4) by being seated onto the holder (4), and

- at least two chocks (7) which are disposed between the holders (4) and the bearers (5) such that they will contact the holder (4) and the bearer (5), and

- at least two weight sensors (6) which are disposed between the chocks (7) and the holders (4).

2. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the holder (4) that is fixed to the surface, which faces the tub (3), of both side walls of the body (2) along the side wall, parallel to the rotational axis of the drum extending in the horizontal axis.

3. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the bearer (5) that extends from the tub (3) surface towards the body (2) side wall.

4. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a casing (8) wherein the weight sensor (6) is disposed and which is fixed to the holder (4) from below, and a pressure element (9) which is disposed into the casing (8) such that it will remain above the weight sensor (6) and which is fixed to the chock (7) from above, and which moves inside the casing (8) and thus, enables the force to be transmitted to the weight sensor (6) by means of the chock (7).

5. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a housing (10) which is located oppositely on the casing (8) and the pressure element (9), and a pin (11) which is mounted to this housing (10) and thus, prevents the casing (8) and the pressure element (9) from being separated from each other.

6. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the weight sensor (6) that is disposed at both sides of the tub (3) such that the one at one side will be in the front and the one at the other side will be in the back.

7. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by two weight sensors (6) each, which are disposed at both sides of the tub (3) as one being in front of the other.

8. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a support means (12) made of metal material that is secured below and above the chock (7).