WO2018228804A1

WO2018228804A1 - A washing machine and the control method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2018228804A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/063823
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilkan Erdem; Ahmet Burak TOP; Fatih KASAP; Varol KAYISDAG; Taha CALISKAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-06-12
Filing date: 2018-05-25
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-12
Also published as: TR201708633A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a body (2); an oscillating group (5) that is arranged in the body (2) and that has a tub (3) wherein the washing process is realized and a drum (4) wherein the laundry is placed and that is arranged in the tub (3) and rotated by means of a motor (6); an opening (7) that is arranged on the body (2) and that provides access into the drum (4); a door (8) that enables the opening (7) to be covered; a bellows (10) that is arranged between the opening (7) and the tub (3) and that provides leak-proofing, and a control unit (11) that controls the operational status of the washing machine (1) and that is used for determining if there is any laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8), the present invention further relating to the control method of the washing machine (1).

Description

A WASHING MACHINE AND THE CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising an oscillating group movable in the body and the control method of the washing machine.

In washing machines, laundry is placed into the drum through a loading opening that is arranged on the body and that is closed by means of a door. When a washing process is started in the washing machine, the drum is rotated in the tub loaded with the washing water during the washing process and thus the laundry is mechanically cleaned. In order to prevent the water used in the washing process from leaking into the body, a flexible bellows that surrounds the opening is arranged between the tub and the opening. However, during the washing process, especially smaller laundry items such as socks that move in the rotating drum may get into the region between the bellows and the closed door. The laundry remaining in the gap between the bellows and the door during the washing process may remain dirty due to insufficient washing, resulting in user dissatisfaction. Furthermore, in cases when the drum is forced to rotate when the laundry gets stuck between the door and the bellows, the bellows may get damaged or the laundry may be deformed and critical operational malfunctions such as the breakdown of the motor that rotates the drum due to excessive strain may occur. Therefore, in the state of the art, flexible barriers that are formed on the bellows and that extend from the bellows towards the door so as to cover the gap between the door and the bellows and prevent the laundry from getting into said gap are used. However, said barriers may be deformed and become dysfunctional over time and cause design limitations.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No. US20160145790, a washing machine is disclosed, having a deflector plate that is arranged on the bellows so as to extend towards the door and that prevents the laundry from getting stuck between the door and the bellows.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No. US20090301143, a washing machine is disclosed, having a door that is designed so as to reduce the friction acting on the bellows.

In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1500738, a washing machine is disclosed, having a sensor that detects if the laundry in the drum reaches the bellows. The operational status of the washing machine is controlled by means of the data received from the sensor.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine enabling the laundry that gets into the gap between the door and the bellows to be moved out of said gap. Another aim of the present invention is the realization of a control method for operating the washing machine of the present invention, that, in case laundry gets stuck in the gap between the door and the bellows during the washing process, allows the laundry to be automatically moved out of the said gap without the need for user intervention.

These objectives have been achieved by the washing machine as defined in Claim 1 and the control method as defined in Claim 10.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a body; a drum wherein the laundry to be washed is placed; a tub wherein the drum is rotated around a horizontal rotation axis; an opening that is arranged on the body and that provides access into the drum; a door that enables the opening to be opened and closed; a flexible bellows that surrounds the opening so as to be arranged between the tub and the opening, and a control unit that enables the washing machine to be controlled, that is designed so as to detect if there is any laundry stuck between the bellows and the door and that changes the operational parameters of the washing machine if there is any laundry stuck between the bellows and the door.

The washing machine of the present invention comprises at least one movement mechanism that is connected to the tub, that is activated by the control unit when it is detected that there is laundry stuck between the door and the bellows, that enables the position of the tub in the body to be changed, thus providing the shifting of the bellows to an offset position where the position of the latter relative to the door is changed. Thus, the form of the bellows that stretches with the movement of the tub and hence the form of the gap between the bellows and the door are changed and the laundry in said gap is pushed out of the gap by means of the movement of the bellows.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism moves the drum so that the distance between at least one part of the bellows and the door is increased. Thus, the gap is widened and the laundry between the door and the bellows is brought back into the drum.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism moves the tub downwards so that the gap between the bellows and the lower part of the door is increased. Thus, the bellows stretches downwards so as to move away from the lower part of the door, and the laundry items stuck under the door are enabled to be moved out of the gap.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism moves the tub backwards so that the bellows stretches and moves away from the door in the horizontal direction. This embodiment is advantageous especially when the bellows is in the form of an accordion and the bellows gains an almost flat form in the offset position. Thus, especially smaller laundry items are prevented from getting stuck between the pleats of the bellows.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism moves the tub diagonally so that the lower part of the bellows moves away from the door in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Thus, the bellows is enabled to at least partially extend from the opening towards the tub and serve as a ramp that direct the laundry into the tub.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in the offset position, the drum is alternately rotated in opposite directions, preferably clockwise and counterclockwise. Thus, the laundry in the gap is enabled to be pulled into the drum as a result of the rotational movement and can be moved out of the gap between the bellows and the door quickly and easily.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit monitors the operational status of the motor and, upon detecting that the motor is overloaded, determines that there is laundry stuck between the bellows and the door and activates the movement mechanism. Thus, the laundry stuck between the bellows and the door can be detected without the need for using an additional sensor or a sensing circuit.

The method of the present invention is suitable for use in the washing machine described above and comprises the steps of starting a washing process, monitoring the operational status of the motor, determining that the motor is overloaded, pausing the washing program, moving the tub to the offset position by activating the movement mechanism, and rotating the drum.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of moving the tub to the position before being moved to the offset position, in other words, to the initial position, by activating the movement mechanism after the drum is rotated, determining that the motor has returned to the proper operational status by monitoring the operational status of the motor, and resuming the washing program.

By means of the present invention, in case there is laundry stuck between the door and the bellows, the laundry is enabled to automatically return into the drum by changing the form and the position of the bellows. Thus, the user satisfaction is improved by enabling the washing machine to continue the washing process smoothly without an intervention from outside.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the view of the washing machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the partial view of the washing machine related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the partial view of the washing machine related to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the oscillating group is in the offset position.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Washing machine
Body
Tub
Drum
Oscillating group
Motor
Opening
Door
Door glass
Bellows
Control unit
Movement mechanism
Rope
Spool

G: Gap

The washing machine (1) comprises a body (2); an oscillating group (5) that is arranged in the body (2) and that has a tub (3) wherein the washing process is realized and a drum (4) wherein the laundry is placed and that is arranged in the tub (3) and rotated by means of a motor (6); an opening (7) that is arranged on the body (2) and that provides access into the drum (4); a door (8) that enables the opening (7) to be covered; a bellows (10) that is arranged between the opening (7) and the tub (3) and that provides leak-proofing, and a control unit (11) that controls the operational status of the washing machine (1) and that is used for determining if there is any laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8). The bellows (10) with one end fixed to the body (2) and the other end connected to the tub (3) has a flexible structure so as to compensate the movements of the oscillating group (5) that oscillates in the body and has a pleated form so as to allow the movements with larger amplitudes. The door (8) comprises a door glass (9) that enables the interior of the drum (4) to be visible when the door (8) is in a closed position so as to cover the opening (7). When the door (8) is in the closed position, a narrow gap (G) remains between the door glass (9) and the bellows (10). The control unit (11) is configured to determine that there is laundry stuck in the gap (G) between the bellows (10) and the door (8) by means of a method such as detecting the change in the rotation of the drum (4) or detecting the laundry in the gap (G) by means of an optical sensor.

The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises at least one movement mechanism (12) that is activated by the control unit (11) when it is detected that there is laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8) and that enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved from a first position to an offset position wherein the bellows (10) is stretched so as to have a deformed shape relative to the first position such that the laundry can be removed from between the door (8) and the bellows (10). The movement mechanism (12) is a linear actuator that is arranged in the body (2), that is connected to the tub (3), and that enables the position of the oscillating group (5) in the body (2) to be changed by pushing and pulling the tub (3). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (12) comprises a spool (14) that is fixed to the interior of the body (2) and a rope (13) with one end connected to the spool (14) and the other to the tub (3), and by means of the spool (14) that is rotated in opposite directions, the rope (13) is pulled and released, thus moving the oscillating group (5) in the body (2). Upon detecting that there is laundry stuck between the door glass (9) and the bellows (10), the control unit (11) pauses the washing process and activates the movement mechanism (12), thus moving the oscillating group (5) from a first position to a predetermined offset position. With the movement of the tub (3), the bellows (10) that extends between the opening (7) and the tub (3) stretches and the laundry is forced out of the gap (G) by changing the form of the bellows (10).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bellows (10) is stretched so as to be at least partially moved away from the door (8) in the offset position. The movement mechanism (12) moves the oscillating group (5) in the body (2) in upwards-downwards, left-right or forwards-backwards directions and enables the bellows (10) connected to the tub (3) to be moved relative to the door (8), and the part of the bellows (10) with laundry stuck between itself and the door (8) is moved away from the door (8). Thus, in the region where the laundry is stuck, the distance between the bellows (10) and the door (8) is increased and the gap (G) is widened. Consequently, the laundry is allowed to move freely in the widened gap (G) between the door glass (9) and the bellows (10) and enabled to be moved out of the gap (G).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (12) enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved downwards in the offset position so as to get closer to the base of the body (2). The movement mechanism (12) moves the oscillating group (5) in the vertical direction and pulls the oscillating group (5) downwards so that the bellows (10) is enabled to be moved away from the lower part of the door glass (9) in the offset position. This embodiment is especially advantageous when the lower part of the door glass (9) has a concave form that extends into the drum (4), and the lowermost point of the bellows (10) is enabled to be stretched downwards so as to move away from the bottom of the door glass (9) while the oscillating group (5) is being moved from the first position to the offset position. Thus, the laundry stuck in the gap (G) between the bottom of the door glass (9) and the lower part of the bellows (10) can move freely as the gap (G) becomes wider when the oscillating group (5) is moved to the offset position.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (12) enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved backwards so as to get closer to the rear wall of the body (2) in the offset position. The movement mechanism (12) moves the oscillating group (5) in the horizontal direction and the oscillating group (5) is pulled towards the back of the body (2) so that the end of the bellows (10) that is connected to the tub (3) is moved away from the opening (7) in the offset position. Thus, while the oscillating group (5) is being moved from the first position to the offset position, the bellows (10) with pleated form is enabled to stretch towards the back of the door (8) and the laundry stuck between the door (8) and the bellows (10) is enabled to be moved towards the back of the door (8) with the movement of the bellows (10). Thus, the laundry can be easily removed from below the door (8).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (12) enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved backwards and downwards diagonally in the offset position. In this embodiment, the movement mechanism (12) enables the oscillating group (5) to be pulled towards the lower back side of the body (2). Thus, in the offset position, the lower part of the bellows (10) is arranged so as to be at least partially inclined into the drum (4) in the horizontal direction. Consequently, the gap (G) between the bottom of door glass (9) and the bellows (10) is widened and the laundry stuck is directed into the drum (4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (11) enables the drum (4) to be rotated in the offset position. The control unit (11) activates the motor (6) and enables the drum (4) to be rotated for a predetermined period of time after the oscillating group (5) is moved to the offset position. The laundry that is enabled to move freely in the widened gap (G) as the oscillating group (5) is moved to the offset position moves in the gap (G) as a result of the forces applied thereon by the water and the laundry that oscillate in the drum (4) with the rotation of the drum (4) in the offset position. Thus, the laundry in the gap (G) is forced to move out of the gap (G) between the door (8) and the bellows (10) with the effect of the rotation and is enabled to return into the drum (4). Consequently, the laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8) can be removed without the need for user intervention from outside and the washing program can be resumed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (11) enables the drum (4) to be rotated in opposite directions in the offset position. The control unit (11) enables the drum (4) to be alternately rotated in the offset position in opposite directions, that is clockwise and counterclockwise. Thus, varying forces act on the laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8) and the laundry is enabled to be removed from between the door (8) and the bellows (10) quickly and effectively.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (11) provides water intake into the tub (3) so that the water level in the tub (3) is increased in the offset position. The control unit (11) enables the water level to be increased at least to the level of the opening (7) by taking additional water into the drum (4) in the offset position. Thus, by lowering the oscillating group (5) in the offset position relative to the first position, the water level is prevented from falling below the level of the opening (7) and the laundry in the gap (G) is enabled to be kept in the water. Consequently, the laundry can be moved out of the gap (G) together with the moving water.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (11) is configured to monitor at least one of the operational parameters of the motor (6) such as current, voltage, phase and rotational speed, and, upon detecting that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined operational range, determines that the laundry is stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8). The control unit (11) monitors an operational parameter of the motor (6), for example, the rotational speed of the motor (6) during the washing process, and, activates the movement mechanism (12) and moves the oscillating group (5) to the offset position upon detecting that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined operational range, for example, upon detecting that the motor (6) is operated at a rotational speed lower than a critical rotational speed or is not rotating at all. Thus, the laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8) is detected in a simple manner and the motor (6) is protected against straining. Consequently, operational errors are effectively prevented.

The method of the present invention is suitable for operating the washing machine (1) explicated above and comprises the steps of
- starting a washing cycle,
- monitoring at least one operational parameter of the motor (6),
- detecting that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined normal operational range,
- pausing the washing process,
- activating the movement mechanism (12) so as to move the oscillating group (5) to the offset position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of
- rotating the drum (4) for a predetermined period of time when the oscillating group (5) is in the offset position,
- activating the movement mechanism (12) so as to move the oscillating group (5) back to the first position from the offset position,
- detecting that the operational parameter monitored by the control unit (11) is in the normal operational range, and
- resuming the washing process.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) can be a laundry washing machine or a laundry washing-drying machine.

By means of the present invention, without the need for making a structural modification on the bellows (10) and the door (8), the laundry is prevented from getting stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8), thus preventing design limitations. Moreover, by means of the present invention, the laundry stuck is prevented from obstructing the rotation of the motor (6) and causing the same to be under strain. Thus, the lifespan of the washing machine (1) is prolonged and the users are provided with a smooth operation.

Claims

A washing machine (1) comprising a body (2); an oscillating group (5) that is arranged in the body (2) and that has a tub (3) wherein the washing process is realized and a drum (4) wherein the laundry is placed and that is arranged in the tub (3) and rotated by means of a motor (6); an opening (7) that is arranged on the body (2) and that provides access into the drum (4); a door (8) that enables the opening (7) to be covered; a bellows (10) that is arranged between the opening (7) and the tub (3) and that provides leak-proofing, and a control unit (11) that controls the operational status of the washing machine (1) and that is used for determining if there is any laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8), characterized by at least one movement mechanism (12) that is activated by the control unit (11) when it is detected that there is laundry stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8) and that enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved from a first position to an offset position wherein the bellows (10) is stretched so as to have a deformed shape relative to the first position such that the laundry can be removed from between the door (8) and the bellows (10).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the bellows (10) that is stretched so as to be at least partially moved away from the door (8) in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the movement mechanism (12) that enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved downwards so as to get closer to the base of the body (2) in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claim 1 to Claim 3, characterized by the movement mechanism (12) that enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved backwards so as to get closer to the rear wall of the body (2) in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the movement mechanism (12) that enables the oscillating group (5) to be moved backwards and downwards diagonally in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (11) that enables the drum (4) to be rotated in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the control unit (11) that enables the drum (4) to be rotated in the opposite directions in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (11) that provides water intake into the tub (3) so that the water level in the tub (3) can be increased in the offset position.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (11) that is configured to monitor at least one of the operational parameters of the motor (6) such as current, voltage, phase and rotational speed, and, upon detecting that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined operational range, that determines that the laundry is stuck between the bellows (10) and the door (8).
A method for operating a washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, comprising the steps of

- starting a washing program,

- monitoring at least one operational parameter of the motor (6),

- detecting that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined operational range,

- pausing the washing program,

- activating the movement mechanism (12) so as to move the oscillating group (5) to the offset position.
A method for operating a washing machine (1) as in Claim 11, further comprising the steps of

- rotating the drum (4) for a predetermined period of time when the oscillating group (5) is in the offset position,

- activating the movement mechanism (12) so as to move the oscillating group (5) back to the first position from the offset position,

- detecting that the operational parameter monitored by the control unit (11) is in the normal operational range, and

- resuming the washing program.