Method of monitoring the rotational movement of a washing machine drum

• US 7,610,643 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Original Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Inventors: Hellhake, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ko; Jason Y
• Application Number:
  US11/247,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 815/8, 815/9, 68/231, 68/120.6
• US Class Current: 8/158
• 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 2105/44 Opening, closing or locking of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/47 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps safety arrangements D06F37/42
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/42 Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door

Abstract

A method of monitoring a washing drum in a washing machine for impermissible or atypical movement during a first phase of a washing program as may result, for instance, from the presence of a child or animal in the drum, and of aborting the washing program upon detection of such impermissible movement.

Claims

1. A method of operating a washing machine comprising a housing, a loading door, a washing fluid tub suspended within the housing for oscillating movements, a washing drum disposed within the washing fluid tub, a motor configured to induce rotation movement to the washing drum, and a detector configured to detect rotary movement of the drum, the method comprising:

monitoring the rotary movement of the drum with the detector during a first phase of the washing program while the motor is inactive; and

preventing continuation of the washing program in response to a detection of rotary movement of the drum that is not imparted by the motor during the first phase of the washing program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising unlatching the loading door of the washing machine upon detection of the rotary movement during the first phase.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising opening the loading door.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing an alarm upon the detection of the rotary movement during the first phase.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the alarm is a visible alarm.