Method for operating a washing machine and washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine having a soapy water container for containing washing liquid, a ribless drum rotatably mounted in the soapy water container for containing clothes, a motor for driving the drum, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, wherein the method has a step for rearranging the clothes in the drum, wherein the drum is caused to perform a left-right movement by the motor so as to cause a shaking movement of the clothes at a shaking frequency, wherein a predetermined shaking amplitude is adjusted so as to achieve the dropping of the clothes, wherein the clothes fall from a first area of ​​the drum into a second area of ​​the drum. The invention also relates to a corresponding washing machine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine and a washing machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine having a soapy water container for containing washing liquid, a drum rotatably mounted in the soapy water container for containing clothes, a motor for driving the drum, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, wherein the method has a step for rearranging the clothes in the drum and relates to a corresponding washing machine. Background Art

[0002] Typically, the drum of a washing machine has ribs on the inside. The ribs (also called entrainment elements) are parts of the drum which, when the drum moves, also cause the clothes in the drum to perform a movement, i.e. entrain the clothes. The ribs are usually protrusions in the drum that protrude from the drum housing, pointing in the direction of the center of the drum, and the clothes located in the drum are suspended at a certain height during the rotation of the drum, and then fall again, and in this way are rotated and rearranged. Typically, there are a plurality of ribs in the drum, which are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other. When performing a washing program, the ribs are very important for the clothes to be rearranged. During the execution of the washing program, the common washing rhythm consists of alternating clockwise drum rotation, pause, counterclockwise drum rotation, pause, clockwise rotation, pause, etc. However, the ribs are additional components that increase the cost. Therefore, a ribless drum is advantageous.

[0003] The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore to provide a method for operating a washing machine and to provide a washing machine having an inexpensive ribless drum.

[0004] In addition to cost-effectiveness, the invention can achieve the advantage that the shaking washing rhythm achieved with the method results in a relatively high washing mechanism and thus allows a relatively fast washing and / or a relatively high washing effect, which may be necessary for relatively heavy stains. At the same time, the washing rhythm allows the laundry to be rearranged without the use of engaging ribs, even in the case of relatively small laundry loads. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine, which has a soapy water container for containing detergent, a ribless drum rotatably installed in the soapy water container for containing clothes, a motor for driving the drum, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, wherein the method has a step of rearranging the clothes in the drum, wherein the motor performs left and right movement of the drum to cause a shaking motion of the clothes at a shaking frequency, and its predetermined shaking amplitude is adjusted to achieve the falling of the clothes, wherein the clothes fall from a first area of ​​the drum into a second area of ​​the drum.

[0006] In the development of a washing process technology for a washing machine with a ribless drum, it has been shown that, in particular with a relatively small amount of laundry in the drum, the laundry items slide when the drum rotates and are not sucked up by the drum. Sliding creates a new type of washing mechanism by rubbing the side of the laundry items facing the drum. However, in order to be able to apply the washing mechanism to the side of the laundry items that is not directed toward the drum, it is necessary to rearrange the laundry, which is not possible due to sliding. By the method according to the invention, despite the tendency to slide, the laundry is rearranged in the drum and a washing mechanism is created that causes the laundry to fall. This provides a washing rhythm with a relatively strong washing mechanism by regulating the left and right movement of the drum, which causes a shaking movement of the laundry that is large enough to cause the laundry to fall. A slight frictional contact between the drum and the laundry is sufficient for this purpose without the laundry sliding in the drum.

[0007] A ribless drum is a drum that has no ribs or entrainment elements in its interior. However, such a drum can have other elevations and / or depressions that do not have the shape of plate-like ribs or entrainment elements. The drum, preferably the drum shell, preferably has depressions and / or elevations other than ribs. It preferably has a honeycomb body, each of which is designed as an elevation or depression.

[0008] The first area of ​​the drum is an area located below the second area of ​​the drum based on the operational setting position of the washing machine.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the shaking frequency is adjusted within a range of -50% to +20% of a calculated shaking frequency stored in the washing machine, wherein the stored calculated shaking frequency is calculated using the following formula (1).

[0010]

[0011] Where f is the predetermined shaking frequency and g is the gravitational constant , and r is the drum radius of the ribless drum. The drum radius is the inner radius of the drum. The shaking frequency is preferably adjusted at -30% of the shaking frequency calculated using formula (1) stored in the washing machine. This also ensures that the clothes are sucked in with sufficient certainty and cause relatively dense clothes to fall.

[0012] The shaking frequency is preferably adjusted so that the rotation speed follows a triangular curve over time. This ensures that the clothes are safely sucked up without sliding. The triangular time curve is preferably achieved by accelerating the motor alternately in sections with a constant acceleration. Since the curve of the rotation angle represents the integral of the rotation speed curve, the curve of the rotation angle still runs almost sinusoidally due to the properties of the integral (the attenuation of the higher frequency components is 20 dB / decade). An exact sine curve is not required. The triangular time curve of the rotation speed has the advantage that it can be implemented with relatively low computing power of an open-loop or closed-loop control device.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined shaking amplitude is greater than + / -90°. This will further ensure that the clothes will not fall off. More preferably, the predetermined shaking amplitude is in the range of + / -90° to + / -150°. Even more preferably, the predetermined shaking amplitude is in the range of + / -100° to + / -110°. This also ensures that the clothes are sucked in with sufficient certainty and cause the clothes to fall off relatively densely.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the shaking amplitude increases from zero to a predetermined shaking amplitude within a predetermined time period. This has the advantage that the shaking amplitude can be gradually increased until it is so large that the clothes fall off.

[0015] The predetermined time period is preferably a first time period, which is at most 0.5 shaking periods, preferably at most 0.2 shaking periods. This causes the clothes to slide at the beginning of the method, resulting in a short initial stage of surface friction between the drum and the clothes, which further contributes to the washing effect. Preferably alternatively, the predetermined time period is a second time period, which is 1.0 to 2.0 shaking periods, more preferably 1.5 shaking periods. This further ensures that most of the clothes are still sucked in and do not slide during the second time period. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined time period depends on the type of clothes determined by adjusting the washing program. This has the following advantages: more delicate clothes can be subjected to less friction than less delicate clothes, and less delicate clothes can be subjected to a stronger washing mechanism.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined shaking amplitude is maintained for a predetermined period of time. If the shaking amplitude is maintained after the predetermined shaking amplitude has been reached, the clothes will continue to rise and fall alternately on the left and right sides, depending on the operating setting position of the washing machine. This creates a relatively intensive washing mechanism.

[0017] In addition, the present invention relates to a washing machine having a soapy water container for containing washing liquid, a ribless drum rotatably mounted in the soapy water container for containing clothes, a motor for driving the drum, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, the washing machine being designed to perform the method according to one or more embodiments described above.

[0018] The embodiments and advantages described for the method apply correspondingly to the washing machine and vice versa.

[0019] The washing machine may be a front loader or a top loader. The term "washing machine" also includes combination devices such as washing machines-dryers. The drum is preferably mounted in the suds container so that it can rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation.

[0020] The open-loop or closed-loop control device can be designed as one or more parts. In addition to adjusting the rotation speed of the motor used to drive the drum, it also has other open-loop or closed-loop functions required to perform the washing program. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments of the invention are shown in a purely schematic manner in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 is the time curve of the rotation speed and angle in the method according to the invention; and

[0023] Figure 2 is a time curve of the rotation speed and angle in another method according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 is the time curve of the rotational speed and the angle in the method according to the invention. The rotational speed curve over time is a triangle. The triangular shape is achieved by alternating acceleration of the motor in parts with constant acceleration. The rotational speed increases in the acceleration phase until it varies within the range of + / -150 rpm. Since the curve of the angle (i.e. the rotation angle) represents the integral of the rotational speed curve, the curve of the angle runs almost sinusoidally due to the nature of the integral (attenuation of higher frequency components is -20 dB / decade).

[0025] The shaking amplitude predetermined for causing the clothes to fall is initially increased from zero to a predetermined shaking amplitude within a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period is a first time period, for example, 1.5 shaking periods. The first time period represents an acceleration phase, in which most of the clothes are sucked in without sliding when the drum rotates. As soon as a predetermined shaking amplitude (for example, about + / - 100°) is reached, the clothes start to fall. If the predetermined shaking amplitude is then maintained, the clothes will continue to rise and fall alternately on the right and left sides of the drum, depending on the operating setting position of the washing machine.

[0026] Figure 2 is a time curve of the rotation speed and angle in another method according to the present invention. Figure 2 The time curves of rotation speed and angle shown in correspond to Figure 1The time curve shown in FIG. 1 is different in that the predetermined time period is the second time period, which is zero, and the rotation speed of the drum varies within the range of + / -100 rpm. Figure 1 The described acceleration phase is missing. In other words, at the beginning of the method, the laundry slides in the drum, so that at the beginning there is a short phase of surface friction between the drum and the laundry.

Claims

1. A method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for containing washing liquid, a ribless drum rotatably mounted in the suds container for containing clothes, a motor for driving the drum, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, wherein: The method has a step for rearranging the clothes in the drum, wherein the drum is caused to perform a left-right movement by the motor so as to cause a shaking motion of the clothes at a shaking frequency, and a predetermined shaking amplitude of the shaking motion is adjusted so that the clothes fall from a first area of ​​the drum into a second area of ​​the drum, characterized in that the shaking frequency is adjusted within a range of -50% to +20% of a calculated shaking frequency stored in the washing machine, wherein the stored calculated shaking frequency is calculated using the following formula (1): ； Where f is the predetermined shaking frequency, g is the gravitational constant, , and r is the radius of the drum.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The shaking frequency is adjusted so that the rotation speed has a triangular time curve.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The triangular time profile is achieved by accelerating the motor alternately in parts with a constant acceleration.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The shaking frequency is -30% of the calculated shaking frequency stored in the washing machine.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The predetermined shaking amplitude is greater than + / - 90°.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The predetermined shaking amplitude is in the range of + / -90° to + / -150°.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The predetermined shaking amplitude is within the range of + / -100° to + / -110°.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The shaking amplitude increases from zero to the predetermined shaking amplitude within a predetermined time period.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The predetermined time period is a first time period, which is at most 0.5 shaking periods; or a second time period, which is 1.0 to 2.0 shaking periods.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The predetermined time period is a first time period, which is 0.2 shaking periods; or a second time period, which is 1.5 shaking periods.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The predetermined shaking amplitude is maintained within a predetermined period of time.

12. A washing machine having a suds container for containing washing liquid, a ribless drum rotatably mounted in the suds container for containing clothes, a motor for driving the drum and an open-loop or closed-loop control device, the washing machine being designed to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

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