A spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine and a washing machine using the same

Abstract

A dehydration control method of a double-barrel washing machine, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: 1. initialization setting; 2. selecting a dehydration mode; 3. entering a normal dehydration program; 4. whether the large barrel reaches a designated resonance point, yes to the next step, no to return to step 3; 5. whether the small barrel rotation speed exceeds Vrmax, yes to the next step, no to step 3; 6. the small barrel is slowed down to Vrmax; 7. whether the large barrel reaches V1, yes to the next step, no to step 3; 8. the small barrel runs at a speed Vdmax; 9. whether the large barrel completes the dehydration, yes to the next step, no to step 8; 10. the small barrel runs at a speed V2; 11. whether the small barrel completes the dehydration, yes to the end, no to return to step 10. The present application has the advantages that the influence of the large barrel vibration on the machine is mainly satisfied, the problem of vibration strengthening caused by eccentricity superposition when the large barrel and the small barrel run simultaneously in the dehydration program is avoided by controlling the rotation speed of the small barrel, and the stability and reliability of the double-barrel washing machine in the dehydration running process are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a dehydration control method, and more particularly to a dehydration control method for a washing machine with a twin-tub structure, as well as a washing machine that operates using this dehydration control method. Background Technology

[0002] Most existing washing machines only have one washing tub. When there is a large amount of laundry or when laundry needs to be sorted, multiple washes are often required. In addition, the washing tubs of older washing machines have a large capacity, which can lead to a waste of washing water or electricity when washing small amounts of laundry such as socks or underwear.

[0003] Therefore, in the prior art, such as the Chinese invention patent with patent number ZL201510046619.0, "Washing Machine with Multiple Outer Tubs," which addresses the need for washing small amounts of clothes in different categories, a washing machine with multiple outer tubs is invented. This washing machine can wash clothes in multiple spaces. The washing machine includes: a shell, with a first outer tub housed inside the shell; a first door for opening and closing a laundry inlet formed in the shell, the first door having a second outer tub; a second door for opening and closing the inlet of the second outer tub; a first water supply unit and a second water supply unit for supplying washing water to the interior of the first outer tub and the interior of the second outer tub, respectively; and a first drainage unit and a second drainage unit for draining the washing water from the interior of the first outer tub and the interior of the second outer tub.

[0004] The aforementioned patented washing machine, without altering the overall size of the washing machine, features two washing tubs with different capacities (one large and one small). The smaller tub is directly mounted on the door of the larger tub, forming a double-tub washing machine with a door-in-tub structure. The larger tub can wash regular clothes or larger items like sheets and duvet covers, while the smaller tub can wash smaller, categorized items like socks and underwear separately, thus conserving water resources.

[0005] However, the aforementioned patent has a problem: during the spin-drying stage after washing, compared to traditional washing machines with only one washing tub, this door-in-tub structure washing machine is prone to vibration due to the eccentric overlap of the two washing tubs during the spin-drying process. Traditional single-tub washing machines typically undergo eccentricity calibration before leaving the factory, with the calibration curve built into the controller. During the actual spin-drying process, the eccentricity value is usually checked multiple times, and by matching the curve, sufficient margin is maintained to increase the spin-drying speed, keeping the machine operating within a controllable range and ensuring smooth spin-drying operation. However, when both washing tubs run the spin-drying program simultaneously, the interaction time and the mutually influencing operating conditions are too complex, and the vibration of the entire machine cannot be solved by detecting the eccentricity of a single washing tub. Moreover, current existing technologies do not address the vibration solution for the door-in-tub structure washing machine used in the aforementioned patent. How to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the door-in-tub washing machine during the spin-drying process is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine that can reduce the vibration of the whole machine during the spin-drying process and make the operation more stable and reliable, in view of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0007] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a washing machine that uses the above-mentioned dehydration control method in view of the current state of the prior art.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the first technical problem mentioned above is: a spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine, characterized in that the spin-drying control method includes the following steps: Step 1: Initialize the settings and calibrate the resonance point of the large bucket, the maximum speed Vrmax that the small bucket can reach at the resonance point, the maximum speed Vdmax that the small bucket can operate at different dehydration levels of the large bucket, the curve of the eccentric matching dehydration speed of the large bucket alone, and the curve of the eccentric matching dehydration speed of the small bucket alone. Step 2: Select the dehydration mode for the large and / or small buckets; Step 3: Proceed to the normal dehydration process; Step 4: Determine if the large barrel has reached the calibrated resonance point. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 5: Determine whether the rotational speed of the small bucket exceeds the maximum rotational speed Vrmax at the resonance point. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 6: The small bucket decelerates to the maximum achievable rotational speed Vrmax at the resonance point; Step 7: Determine whether the large container has reached the maximum dehydration speed V1 corresponding to the current dehydration mode. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 8: Accelerate the small bucket and run it at the maximum speed Vdmax that can be operated at the current dehydration setting of the large bucket; Step 9: Determine if the large drum has completed this dehydration process. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 8. Step 10: The small bucket continues to accelerate and runs at the maximum dehydration speed V2 of the small bucket corresponding to the current dehydration mode; Step 11: Determine if the bucket has completed the dehydration process. If yes, the program ends; otherwise, return to Step 10.

[0009] To prevent excessive eccentricity within the drum during dehydration and to ensure the normal operation of the single-drum dehydration program, preferably, the initialization settings in step one also include: calibrating the curves of eccentric matching dehydration speeds for the individual large and small drums, obtaining the maximum dehydration speed V1 of the large drum at each dehydration setting, and the maximum dehydration speed V2 of the small drum at each dehydration setting.

[0010] Preferably, the spin speed of the washing machine in the spin-drying program is typically in the range of 0~1400 rpm / min.

[0011] As a further preferred option, the number of resonance points of the large barrel within the dehydration speed range is generally 2 to 3.

[0012] Preferably, in step three, the normal spin-drying program involves the large and / or small tubs each completing a predetermined spin-drying cycle in their selected spin-drying modes until the spin-drying process is complete. Entering the normal spin-drying program typically involves a single tub operating, eliminating the need to consider the mutual vibration interference from simultaneous dual-tub spin-drying. The washing tub can complete the spin-drying process according to the normal procedure. However, if both tubs are to run the spin-drying program, there will be mutual vibration interference from both tubs vibrating simultaneously. This requires control measures following step four to prevent amplified resonance.

[0013] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the second technical problem mentioned above is: a washing machine, comprising a large tub and a small tub that can be washed independently, characterized in that: the large tub and the small tub operate a dehydration program using the dehydration control method described above.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this invention are as follows: considering that there are more clothes in the large tub and the spin-drying time is also longer, this application prioritizes the impact of the vibration of the large tub on the machine, and secondarily considers the impact of the vibration of the small tub on the machine. By controlling the rotation speed of the small tub, the problem of eccentric superposition and vibration amplification caused by the simultaneous operation of the large and small tubs in the spin-drying program is avoided. This effectively avoids resonance during the operation of the two tubs, ensures the stability and reliability of the existing twin-tub washing machine during the spin-drying process, improves the safety and comfort of using the equipment, and thus extends the service life of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0017] The washing machine in this embodiment is based on the structure of the washing machine described in the Chinese invention patent "Washing Machine with Multiple Outer Tubs" with patent number ZL201510046619.0 in the prior art. This washing machine has large and small outer tubs and drums respectively set in the outer tubs without changing the overall size of the washing machine. The small tub is opened on the door of the large tub, forming a door-in-tub structure, which can realize the effect of independent washing in multiple spaces.

[0018] Currently, drum washing machines generally do not have sensors to detect machine vibration. To prevent excessive eccentricity inside the drum during the spin-drying process, which could cause machine vibration, eccentricity calibration is usually performed before leaving the factory. The eccentricity calibration curve (for example, the curve of the machine's maximum spin-drying speed and eccentricity value under a 1kg uniform load, and so on for 2kg, 3kg, etc.) is built into the controller. During the actual spin-drying process, the eccentricity value is usually detected multiple times. By matching the curve, sufficient margin is reserved to increase the spin-drying speed, so that the machine's fixture operates within a controllable range, ensuring the machine's spin-drying operation.

[0019] A single drum can be perfectly matched using the above method. However, when two drums run simultaneously, the vibration cannot be solved by detecting the eccentricity of a single drum due to the numerous and complex interaction points and mutual influence conditions. The dewatering control method in this embodiment aims to solve how to effectively control machine vibration when two drums are running.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment implements a dehydration control method for a twin-tub washing machine structure as described above. The twin-tub washing machine includes a large tub and a small tub that can be washed independently. The large tub and the small tub operate the dehydration program using the following dehydration control method.

[0021] The default condition of the dehydration control method in this embodiment is: since larger drums generally contain more clothes, the dehydration time is longer, and the vibration energy generated during dehydration is greater than that of smaller drums, the vibration requirements of the larger drums during dehydration are satisfied first. Specifically, the dehydration control method includes the following steps: Step 1: Initialize settings and calibrate preset parameters: resonance point of the large bucket; maximum rotational speed Vrmax that the small bucket can reach at the resonance point; maximum rotational speed Vdmax that the small bucket can operate at different dehydration levels of the large bucket; curve of eccentric matching dehydration speed of the large bucket alone, and obtain the maximum dehydration speed V1 of the large bucket at each dehydration level; curve of eccentric matching dehydration speed of the small bucket alone, and obtain the maximum dehydration speed V2 of the small bucket at each dehydration level.

[0022] The above parameter calibration can be completed using various methods of existing technology, usually before leaving the factory. The corresponding calibration values ​​can be obtained according to the design parameters of the washing machine. Among them, the maximum speed Vrmax that the small tub can reach at the resonance point and the maximum speed Vdmax that the small tub can operate at different spin-drying levels of the large tub are calibration results obtained under the premise of ensuring that the vibration meets the factory-set operating conditions during the spin-drying process of the two tubs, which can meet the vibration control requirements of the whole machine.

[0023] Step 2: Select the spin-drying mode for the large tub and / or the small tub. The spin-drying mode here mainly refers to the spin-drying speed corresponding to the large tub and the small tub during spin-drying. It can usually be determined by manually selecting the washing mode before spin-drying. Generally, the spin-drying speed range of the washing machine in the spin-drying program is 0~1400rpm / min, and the number of resonance points of the large tub in the spin-drying speed range is 2~3.

[0024] Step 3: Enter the normal dehydration program; the normal dehydration program generally refers to the large container and / or small container completing the predetermined dehydration process in the selected dehydration mode until the dehydration is completed.

[0025] Step 4: Determine if the large container has reached the calibrated resonance point. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Before the large container accelerates to the maximum dehydration speed V1 corresponding to the current dehydration mode, it may pass through multiple resonance points. This step is required to check the speed each time it approaches the resonance point.

[0026] Step 5: Determine whether the rotational speed of the small bucket exceeds the maximum rotational speed Vrmax at the resonance point. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 6: The small bucket decelerates to the maximum achievable rotational speed Vrmax at the resonance point; Step 7: Determine whether the large container has reached the maximum dehydration speed V1 corresponding to the current dehydration mode. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 8: Accelerate the small bucket and run it at the maximum speed Vdmax that can be operated at the current dehydration setting of the large bucket; Step 9: Determine if the large drum has completed this dehydration process. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 8. Step 10: The small bucket continues to accelerate and runs at the maximum dehydration speed V2 of the small bucket corresponding to the current dehydration mode; Step 11: Determine if the bucket has completed the dehydration process. If yes, the program ends; otherwise, return to Step 10.

[0027] This embodiment also shows that the above-mentioned dehydration control method can be applied to a washing machine, which includes a large tub and a small tub that can be washed independently of each other. The feature is that the large tub and the small tub use the above-mentioned dehydration control method to run the dehydration program.

[0028] The dehydration processes in the large and small drums of this embodiment include the following scenarios: 1. For separate dehydration of large drums, simply run the standard large drum dehydration program.

[0029] 2. For separate dehydration of small buckets, simply run the standard small bucket dehydration program.

[0030] 3. Dehydrate both the large and small buckets together: This scenario is further divided into three operating conditions: the large tub spins first, followed by the small tub; the small tub spins first, followed by the large tub; and both the large and small tubs spin together. In this embodiment, the primary focus is on meeting the vibration requirements of the large tub, with the small tub playing a secondary role. Whenever the large and small tubs overlap during simultaneous operation, the resonance point of the large tub needs to be detected in real time to control the spin speed of the small tub. After passing the resonance point of the large tub, the spin speed of the small tub is gradually increased until the spin process is completed. This avoids the amplified vibration caused by the eccentric superposition of the large and small tubs, effectively reducing the overall vibration of the twin-tub washing machine and ensuring stable and reliable operation of the equipment.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the spin-drying process in a twin-tub washing machine, characterized in that, The twin-tub washing machine includes a large tub and a small tub that can wash independently of each other, and the spin-drying control method includes the following steps: Step 1: Initialize the settings, calibrate the resonance point of the large bucket, the maximum speed Vrmax that the small bucket can reach at the resonance point, the maximum speed Vdmax that the small bucket can run at different dehydration levels of the large bucket, the curve of the eccentric matching dehydration speed of the large bucket alone, and the curve of the eccentric matching dehydration speed of the small bucket alone. Obtain the maximum dehydration speed V1 of the large bucket at each dehydration level, and the maximum dehydration speed V2 of the small bucket at each dehydration level. Step 2: Select the dehydration mode for the large and small buckets. The dehydration mode is the dehydration setting corresponding to the large and small buckets during dehydration. Step 3: Proceed to the normal dehydration process; Step 4: Determine if the large barrel has reached the calibrated resonance point. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to Step 3. Step 5: Determine whether the rotational speed of the small bucket exceeds the maximum rotational speed Vrmax at the resonance point. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 6: The small bucket decelerates to the maximum achievable rotational speed Vrmax at the resonance point; Step 7: Determine if the large container has reached the maximum dehydration speed V1 corresponding to the current dehydration mode. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 3. Step 8: Accelerate the small bucket and run it at the maximum speed Vdmax that can be operated at the current dehydration setting of the large bucket; Step 9: Determine if the large drum has completed this dehydration process. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step 8. Step 10: The small bucket continues to accelerate and runs at the maximum dehydration speed V2 corresponding to the current dehydration mode; Step 11: Determine if the bucket has completed the dehydration process. If yes, the program ends; otherwise, return to Step 10.

2. The spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spin speed range of the washing machine in the spin-drying program is 0~1400 rpm / min.

3. The spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The large barrel has 2 to 3 resonance points within the dehydration speed range.

4. The spin-drying control method for a twin-tub washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The normal dehydration process in step three involves the large and small containers completing the predetermined dehydration process in their respective selected dehydration modes until the dehydration is finished.

5. A washing machine comprising a large tub and a small tub capable of washing each other independently, characterized in that: The large and small barrels are operated using the dehydration control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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