Network and protocol for controlling washing and drying machines which share common utilities
First Claim
1. A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a laundry facility which share a common resource, comprising:
- a plurality of autonomously operated washing machines;
a network connecting a slave controller of each of said plurality of washing machines; and
a network controller connected to said network for obtaining status information from each of said washing machines, and for transmitting to each slave controller connected to said network a command prohibiting a washing machine from using said common resource based on previously received status information from other of said washing machines.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a laundry facility which share a common resource. A plurality of autonomously operated washing machines are connected through a network, so that a slave controller of each washing machine may be controlled by a master controller of the network. The master controller issues periodic polling commands over the network to obtain status information from each of the washing machines. Each slave controller of the washing machine can be prohibited from proceeding through a washing cycle when a common resource used by all machines has reached capacity limits.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a laundry facility which share a common resource, comprising:
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a plurality of autonomously operated washing machines;
a network connecting a slave controller of each of said plurality of washing machines; and
a network controller connected to said network for obtaining status information from each of said washing machines, and for transmitting to each slave controller connected to said network a command prohibiting a washing machine from using said common resource based on previously received status information from other of said washing machines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 18)
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5. A system for controlling a drain function of a plurality of washing machines which use a common drain in a laundry facility, comprising:
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a slave controller at each washing machine, said slave controller controlling said washing machine wash and dry cycles; and
a network controller connected via a network to each of said slave controllers, said network controller connected to receive information identifying the status of each washing machine, said network controller determining from said status how many machines are using said common drain, and generating an inhibit command for the remaining machines entering a drain portion of their washing cycle when a predetermined number of machines are using said drain to prevent said remaining machines from draining into said drain. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. In a system for operating a plurality of laundry machines in a laundry, a slave controller for each washing machine comprising:
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a laundry cycle controller for operating a laundry machine; and
a network interface for receiving commands and transmitting data from and to a network controller, said commands including a permissive which permits said laundry machine to enter a portion of a laundry cycle which shares a common resource with other laundry machines. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for sharing resources among a plurality of laundry machines which are connected over a common network to a network controller, comprising:
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determining at a network controller when one or more of said laundry machines is entering a portion of a machine cycle requiring a shared resource;
determining the number of laundry machines using said shared resource;
determining if the number of machines using said shared resource is at a maximum;
inhibiting any additional machines from using said shared resource when the number of machines reaches said maximum; and
authorizing said additional machines to use said shared resource when the number of machines using said resource is less than said maximum. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification