METHOD FOR PROCESSING LAUNDRY, AND A LAUNDRY PROCESSING DEVICE

• US 20110067186A1
• Filed: 03/07/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Professional AB
• Original Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Inventors: Johansson, Mattias
• Granted Patent: US 9,222,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/24 Spin speed; Drum movements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/26 Imbalance; Noise level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/46 of the motor driving the drum
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/48 Drum speed
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/48 Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/76 Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/52 Preventing or reducing noise

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for processing laundry in a laundry processing device (110) comprising a drum (112) that is rotatably mounted on a support so as to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis. The method comprises recording, while the laundry is being processed, a signal that is correlated to the interaction between the drum (112) and the laundry (114), and that exhibits a variation caused by the rotation of the drum (112); on the basis of the signal and a desired process result, determining a target rotary speed of the drum (112); and adjusting the rotary speed of the drum (112) to the target rotary speed. Further, the invention relates to a laundry processing device capable of performing the method.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the processing of laundry in a laundry processing device, the device comprising a drum, adapted to accommodate laundry and being rotatably mounted on a support so as to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis;

a motor, arranged for rotating the drum, and a controller, adapted for controlling the rotary speed of the drum, the method comprising

initiating, when the drum contains laundry, a rotation of the drum by means of the motor, and being characterized by

recording, while the laundry is being processed, a signal that is correlated to the interaction between the drum and the laundry, and that exhibits a variation caused by the rotation of the drum;

on the basis of the signal and a desired process result, determining a target rotary speed of the drum; and

adjusting the rotary speed of the drum to the target rotary speed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target rotary speed is selected based on a desired level of mechanical action on the laundry.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target rotary speed is within a rotary speed interval of from 75% to 120% of a rotary speed that corresponds to a maximum of the laundry drop height.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laundry processing device further comprises a drain valve;

and the method is performed while the drain valve is closed and the drum contains a level of washing fluid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal is correlated to at least one of the following:

the movement of the laundry inside the drum;

the static unbalance mass of the drum and the laundry.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laundry processing device is a tumble dryer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target rotary speed of the drum is determined on the basis of at least one of the following:

the location, velocity, or impact acceleration of the drum or of any structure connected to the drum as the laundry hits the bottom inner surface of the drum;

the force exerted by the drum on any structure supporting the drum;

the elevation torque;

the weight of the drum;

the signal from a camera, a pressure sensor, or a microphone.

8. A laundry processing device comprising

a drum, adapted to accommodate laundry and being rotatably mounted on a support so as to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis;

a motor, arranged for rotating the drum; and

a controller, adapted for controlling the rotary speed of the drum, the laundry processing device being characterized by comprising

means arranged and configured for recording, while the laundry is being processed, a signal that is correlated to the interaction between the drum and the laundry, and that exhibits a variation caused by the rotation of the drum; and

means arranged and configured for determining, on the basis of the signal and a desired process result, a target rotary speed of the drum.

9. A laundry processing device according to claim 8, wherein the device is configured and arranged select the target rotary speed based on a desired level of mechanical action on the laundry.

10. A laundry processing device according to claim 8, wherein the device is configured and arranged to select the target rotary speed within a rotary speed interval of from 75% to 120% of a rotary speed that corresponds to a maximum of the laundry drop height.

11. A laundry processing device according to claim 8, further comprising a drain valve, wherein the device is configured and arranged to adjust the speed of the drum to the target rotary speed while the drain valve is closed and the drum contains a level of washing fluid.

12. A laundry processing device according to claim 8, wherein the signal is correlated to at least one of the following:

the movement of the laundry inside the drum;

the static unbalance mass of the drum and the laundry.

13. A laundry processing device according to claim 8, wherein the means for recording a signal is arranged and configured to measure at least one of the following:

the location, velocity, or impact acceleration of the drum or of any structure connected to the drum as the laundry hits the bottom inner surface of the drum;

the force exerted by the drum on a structure supporting the drum;

the elevation torque;

the weight of the drum;

the signal from a camera;

the signal from a microphone.

14. A laundry processing device according to claim 8, wherein the laundry processing device is one of the following:

a washing machine;

a tumble dryer;

a combined washing machine and tumble dryer.