WO2018224268A1

WO2018224268A1 - A bearer suitable for use with a washer-dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2018224268A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/062741
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Cahit OZDEMIR; Halil TURKMEN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-06-09
Filing date: 2018-05-16
Publication date: 2018-12-13

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bearer (3) suitable for use with a washer-dryer (1) having a drum (2) in which laundry items are placed, comprising at least one sensor (4) enabling collecting data from the laundry items by contacting the laundry items in the drum (2), and at least one power source (5) enabling energizing the components thereon, and a charging unit (8) adapted for use with said bearer.

Description

A BEARER SUITABLE FOR USE WITH A WASHER-DRYER

The present invention relates to a bearer suitable for use in a washer-dryer, having an internal power source.

In washer-dryers during drying process, parameters of the laundry items in a drum such as dryness, temperature, etc. have to be measured precisely and accurately. The duration of drying process depends on the laundry items reaching the accurate levels of dryness and temperature, and upon reaching of said levels drying process is terminated. Various sensors are provided on washer-dryers, enabling measuring parameters such as conductivity, temperature, humidity, etc., and the washer-dryer is controlled by means of the data received from such sensors.

Generally in washer-dryers, conductivity is measured during drying process and drying process is terminated according to this measurement. Conductivity is measured by means of two electrodes stably placed at the front portion of a drum. During drying process, the conductivity value of the laundry items can be measured when the laundry items in the drum contact said electrodes.

Laundry items are more conductive in humid state. The conductivity of the laundry items decreases as it dries and loses its humidity. The conductivity of only the laundry items contacting the electrodes can be measured during drying. The possibility of the electrodes contacting the laundry items significantly decreases when there is a small amount of laundry items in the drum which are not distributed homogeneously, thereby making it more difficult to determine drying. In this case, drying process is terminated by a timer. This, however, leads to drying process not being fully performed or the laundry items being thermally damaged by being over-dried.

There are several applications for detecting the dryness of the laundry items in the state of the art. One of these applications is, as mentioned above, detecting dryness by placing at least two electrodes to a position where they will contact the laundry items during drying process, and forming a current bridge between two electrodes when the damp laundry items contacts the two electrodes, and evaluating the difference between the resistance values of the electrodes.

State of the art European Patent no. EP2387643 discloses a washer-dryer having a drum rotating in horizontal axis, the washer-dryer comprising electrodes fixed on the inlet port of the drum by way of plastic injection, enabling detecting dryness.

State of the art Korean Patent Application no. KR20030041428 discloses a washer-dryer comprising a dryness detection unit provided in the drum, having electrodes fixed on the wall of the drum.

Another embodiment of the state of the art is disclosed in the international patent application no. WO2004022836. This patent application discloses a washer-dryer comprising a sensor provided on a drum, communicating with a control unit by contactless signal transmission.

Another embodiment of the state of the art is disclosed in the European Patent Application no. EP0940494. Said document also discloses a washer-dryer comprising a conductivity sensor used for detecting dryness of laundry items, and wirelessly communicating with a control unit.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a bearer suitable for use with a washer-dryer, with improved operational performance and safety.

The bearer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, is suitable for use with a washer-dryer so as to be placed within the washer-dryer, and comprises at least one sensor enabling collecting data about the condition of the laundry items in a drum, a power source provided in the bearer, enabling supplying energy to the circuit on which the sensor is disposed, and a plurality of secondary coils wound bidirectionally, on which an induction current is induced upon approaching the primary coil of an external power source providing magnetic energy, and connected to the power source so as to enable supplying energy to the power source by means of the induction current. Thus, when the bearer is placed on the external power source and is on any position with respect to the external power source, at least one of the secondary coils is disposed so as not be parallel to the primary coils, and voltage is generated thereon. Hereby, the power source can be easily charged independent of the position of the bearer on the external power source. By this, a bearer is obtained which does not comprise an additional opening or connection inlet for being charged, and which is enabled to be charged by being placed on any position on the charging unit, avoiding operational problems caused by the bearer not being charged due to being placed incorrectly on the external power source. By this, the electronic components of the bearer are prevented from being damaged by being insulated, providing the users a problem-free usage.

In an embodiment of the invention, the secondary coil is wound bidirectionally having horizontal and vertical components, so as to have a spiral or helical shape.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer comprises two secondary coils wound such that their axes are vertical to each other. By this, the magnetic field provided by the external power source is utilized effectively.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer comprises three secondary coils wound such that each one of their axes are vertical to one another. By this, the power source can be charged rapidly.

The energy needs of the bearer and the units provided therein are supplied by at least one rechargeable battery positioned in the bearer and used as the power source.

The charging unit of the invention is suitable for use with said bearer, and comprises primary coils enabling generating a magnetic field on the secondary coils when the bearer is placed thereon. The bearer is thus charged by induction.

With the invention, the bearer is charged in contactless and effective manner in varying positions. Furthermore, complete insulation of the circuit components in the bearer is provided, avoiding malfunctions and operational problems likely to occur due to contacting the damp laundry items.

The bearer and the washer-dryer suitable for use in interaction with the bearer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washer-dryer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bearer and sensors.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bearer and the charging unit together.

Figure 4 is a view of the bearer and the secondary coil.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bearer and the charging unit together.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Washer/dryer
Drum
Bearer
Sensor
Power source
Control unit
Holder
Charging unit
Secondary coil

The bearer (3) suitable for use with a washer-dryer (1) having a drum (2) in which laundry items are placed, comprises at least one sensor (4) enabling collecting data from the laundry items by contacting the laundry items inside the drum (2), at least one power source (5) enabling energizing the components thereon, and a plurality of secondary coils (9)

• adapted to conduct an energy transfer with an external power source such that a current is induced thereon upon the bearer (3) being placed on the external power source providing magnetic energy,

• connecting to the power source (5) and enabling the power source to be charged (5) by means of the current induced thereon, and

• extending on planes which are at least partially not parallel to each other (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The bearer (3) is used with a washer-dryer which may be a laundry drying machine, a laundry washing machine or a laundry washing-drying machine, and is placed in the drum (2), and comprises at least one sensor (4) enabling measuring a parameter such as temperature, dryness from the laundry items in the drum (2). In an embodiment of the invention, the sensor (4) maybe a pair of electrodes enabling detecting the electrical dryness levels of the items contacted in the drum (2). The electrodes made of conductive material, collect in the environment in which they are placed, data in real-time by measuring the electrical conductivity of the laundry items which are in contact therewith. Since the bearer (3) placed in the drum (2) of the washer-dryer (1), can move freely, the sensor (4) contacts almost all of the laundry items in the drum (2), and enables receiving real-time information, for example dryness information, about all of the laundry items. The sensors (4) are thus enabled to contact all of the laundry items independent of the amount and the distribution of the laundry items in the drum (2), thereby enabling collecting the information of the parameters related to the dryness of the laundry items in the most precise and accurate manner.

The bearer (3) further comprises a control unit (6) in which the data provided from the laundry items are evaluated, and one or more holders (7) provided in the bearer (3), on which the control unit (6) and the power source (5) are fixed. The holders (7) restrict the units provided in the bearer (3) from moving with respect to the bearer (3). The electric current generated between the electrodes during contacting of the electrodes to the laundry items, is transmitted to the control unit (6) and the dryness of the laundry items is evaluated. When the bearer (3) is not used, it is removed out of the drum (2) and is supplied power by inductive effect from an external power source (not shown in the figures) having a primary coil (not shown in the figures) providing a magnetic field for the secondary coils (9) disposed in the bearer (3). The secondary coils (9) are provided in the bearer (3) so as to be right underneath the outer surface of the bearer (3), and are completely insulated from the outer environment. By means of the secondary coils (9) wound bidirectionally so as not to be parallel to each other, at least one of the secondary coils (9) is prevented from being parallel to the primary coil. The secondary coils (9) thus provide energy from the external power source independent of the position of the bearer (3) on the external power source, in other words at all positions, and enable the power source (5) to be charged. By this, the bearer (3) is allowed to be charged by using a suitable external power source independently of the direction of the magnetic field provided from the external power source. Using the bearer (3) is thus facilitated.

In another embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) has a spherical shape. The bearer (3) is shaped as an enclosed spherical chamber on whose outer wall the sensors (4) are disposed. The sensors (4) are positioned on the outer surface of the bearer (3) in a convenient manner to collect data from the outer environment. The control unit (6) and the power source (5) are positioned in the bearer (3). The two semi-spheres are sealingly interlocked by screw threads formed suitably for each other preferably along their edges. In this embodiment, the secondary coils (9) are located right underneath the outer surface of the bearer (3), and are formed so as to adapt the shape of the bearer (3) by winding a conductive wire so as to form at least one ring.

In another embodiment of the invention, the secondary coil (9) has a spiral shape. In this embodiment, the secondary coil (9) is obtained by winding the conductive wire from one pole of the spherical shaped bearer (3) to its other pole so as to have a helical shape (Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) comprises a plurality of secondary coils (9) disposed so as to extend on planes at least partially vertical to each other. The secondary coils (9) are wound vertically to each other so as to obtain circumferential ring springs intersecting each other below the spherical outer surface. The bearer (3) placed independently of its position on the external power source can thus be wireless charged easily from all directions.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer (3) comprises at least three secondary coils (9) each disposed so as to extend on planes vertical to each other. The secondary coils (9) are wound so as to be disposed on axes vertical to each other in three-dimensional space. By this, the magnetic field provided by the external power source is effectively utilized, and the power source (5) is efficiently charged.

In an embodiment of the invention, a battery is used as the power source (5).

The charging unit (8) of the invention is adapted to conduct an energy transfer with the above-described bearer (3), and comprises at least one primary coil enabling inducing current on a secondary coil (9) upon the bearer (3) being placed thereon. When the bearer (3) is placed on the charging unit (8), AC voltage is induced on the secondary coil (9) disposed in the bearer (3) by the magnetic field generated by means of the primary coil in the charging unit (8). The power source (5) in the bearer (3) is enabled to be charged by directing and regulating said voltage. The bearer (3) is thus charged independent of its position on the charging unit (8) (Figure 3).

Thanks to the invention, since in order to charge the power source (5), an electric inlet, connector or an opening allowing access to the power source (5) is not required to be disposed on the outer surface of the bearer (3) the components in the bearer (3) are insulated and prevented from being damaged from humidity and heat, and the safety of the bearer (3) is thus enhanced. Thanks to the secondary coils (9) disposed so as not be parallel to each other, the power source (5) is efficiently charged and an ease of use is provided by means of the invention.

Claims

A bearer (3) suitable for use with a washer-dryer (1) having a drum (2) in which laundry items are placed, comprising at least one sensor (4) enabling collecting data from the laundry items by contacting the laundry items inside the drum (2), and at least one power source (5) enabling energizing the components thereon, characterized by a plurality of secondary coils (9)

- adapted to conduct an energy transfer with an external power source such that a current is induced thereon upon the bearer (3) being placed on the external power source providing magnetic energy,

- connecting to the power source (5) and enabling the power source to be charged (5) by means of the current induced thereon, and

- extending on planes which are at least partially not parallel to each other.
A bearer (3) according to claim 1, characterized by the secondary coil (9) being spiral shaped.
A bearer (3) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by a plurality of secondary coils (9) disposed so as to extend on planes at least partially vertical to each other.
A bearer (3) according to claim 3, characterized by at least three secondary coils (9) each disposed so as to extend on a plane vertical to one another.
A bearer (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a battery used as the power source (5).
A bearer (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, having a spherical shape.
A bearer (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the sensor (4) which is a pair of electrodes enabling detecting the dryness level of the laundry items by measuring the electrical conductivity of the laundry items.
A charging unit (8) adapted to conduct energy transfer with a bearer (3) according to the preceding claims, characterized by at least one primary coil enabling inducing current on a secondary coil (9) upon the bearer (3) being placed thereon.