An operation method for dryers

Abstract

The operation method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (100) initiating a drying program; (101) running the motor; (102) measuring a temperature of the heater following a first time period (t1) and storing the measured temperature of the heater as a reference temperature; (103) measuring temperature of the heater for the second time following a second time period (t2); (104) comparing the second measured temperature of the heater with the reference temperature; (105) measuring a triac temperature of the motor if the second measured temperature of the heater is lower than the reference temperature; (106) comparing the measured triac temperature of the motor with a threshold value; (107) outputting a motor error to terminate the drying program if the triac temperature of the motor is lower than said threshold value; (108) comparing the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with a predefined value if the second measured temperature of the heater is not lower than the reference temperature or the triac temperature of the motor is not lower than said threshold; (109) continuing to measure the temperature of the heater for a third time period if the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; (110) measuring a temperature of the heater for the third time, at the end of the third time period; (111) comparing the difference between third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with said predefined value; (112) outputting a heater error to terminate the drying program if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; and (113) continuing the drying program if the difference between second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value, or if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value.

Description

[0001] AN OPERATION METHOD FOR DRYERS

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a dryer used for drying items, especially laundry.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] After washing and rinsing textile products, such as laundry, with washing liquids such as water, a certain amount of liquid remains thereon. In order for said textile product to be used or stored safely, the remaining liquids must be removed by evaporation. In traditional applications, this process is provided by hanging the textile products to dry. However, this process is troublesome for users and the drying process takes a long time. In addition, especially in cold weather, outdoor temperature may not be sufficient to ensure the drying process.

[0006] In the prior art, dryers have been developed to provide a solution to the mentioned problem. Said dryers comprise a drum for receiving the items to be dried, which is rotatable; and a heating system for heating the air in the drum. The heating system may comprise at least one heating element that for heating the air; and at least one fan for circulating the heated air. Also, at least one condenser can be used to condense the steam generated during the drying process.

[0007] Operation of the dryers can be controlled according to the humidity and / or temperature values of the air circulated therein or of the dried items. In other words, the dryer is operated until a desired humidity and / or temperature value is reached, and then the operation is terminated. However, when components of the dryer fail to operate, the drying process cannot be performed, and therefore, the desired humidity and temperature values cannot be reached. This, in turn, causes the drying process not to be terminated, thus leading to energy loss.

[0008] Brief of the Invention The present invention provides an operation method for a dryer having at least one body; at least one drum provided in the body; at least one motor for moving the drum; at least one door for accessing into the drum; and at least one heater for heating the air in the drum. The operation method comprises the steps of: initiating a drying program; running the motor; measuring a temperature of the heater following a first time period (t1) and storing the measured temperature of the heater as a reference temperature; measuring temperature of the heater for the second time following a second time period (t2); comparing the second measured temperature of the heater with the reference temperature; measuring a triac temperature of the motor if the second measured temperature of the heater is lower than the reference temperature; comparing the measured triac temperature of the motor with a threshold value; outputting a motor error to terminate the drying program if the triac temperature of the motor is lower than said threshold value; comparing the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with a predefined value if the second measured temperature of the heater is not lower than the reference temperature or the triac temperature of the motor is not lower than said threshold value; continuing to measure the temperature of the heater for a third time period if the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; measuring a temperature of the heater for the third time, at the end of the third time period; comparing the difference between third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with said predefined value; outputting a heater error to terminate the drying program if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; and continuing the drying program if the difference between second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value, or if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value.

[0009] In the operation method according to the present invention, whether there is a fault in the components of the dryer is detected in a practical and reliable way, and in case of a fault, operation of the dryer is stopped and the user is informed about the source of the failure. Therefore, the dryer is prevented from operating unnecessarily and wasting energy, as well as providing a quick fault detection. Object of the Invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method for dryers.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an operation method for outputting a warning to a user in case of a fault during the operation of the dryer.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide an operation method for stopping the dryer in case of a fault during the operation of the dryer.

[0013] Description of the Drawings

[0014] An exemplary embodiment of the operation method according to the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawing, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a flow chart of the operation method according to the invention.

[0016] All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

[0017] Initiating a drying program (100)

[0018] Running the motor (101)

[0019] Storing the temperature of the heater as a reference temperature (102)

[0020] Measuring a temperature of the heater for the second time (103)

[0021] Comparing second measured temperature of heater with reference temperature (104) Measuring triac temperature of motor (105)

[0022] Comparing the measured triac temperature of the motor with a threshold value (106) Outputting a motor error to terminate the drying program (107)

[0023] Comparing the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with a predefined value (108)

[0024] Continuing to measure the temperature of the heater (109)

[0025] Measuring a temperature of the heater for the third time (110)

[0026] Comparing the difference between third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with the predefined value (111) Outputting a heater error to terminate the drying program (112)

[0027] Continuing the drying program (113)

[0028] Detecting the amount of humidity (114)

[0029] Comparing humidity value detected by the sensor (115) with a threshold humidity value

[0030] Waiting for a predetermined amount of time (116)

[0031] Checking a temperature of the door (117)

[0032] Completing the drying process (118)

[0033] Description of the Invention

[0034] Dryers, especially used for drying textile products such as laundry, comprise a plurality of active components. When at least one of the active components fails, the dryer cannot perform its drying function. When users are not aware of the mentioned fault, the dryer operates unnecessarily, causing energy waste. For this reason, the present invention provides an operation method for detecting a fault in a dryer.

[0035] The operation method according to the present invention, an exemplary flowchart of which is illustrated in figure 1 , is suitable for use in a dryer having at least one body; at least one drum provided in the body; at least one motor for moving the drum; at least one door for accessing into the drum; and at least one heater for heating the air in the drum. The operation method comprises the steps of: (100) initiating a drying program; (101) running the motor; (102) measuring a temperature of the heater following a first time period (t1) and storing the measured temperature of the heater as a reference temperature; (103) measuring temperature of the heater for the second time following a second time period (t2); (104) comparing the second measured temperature of the heater with the reference temperature; (105) measuring a triac temperature of the motor if the second measured temperature of the heater is lower than the reference temperature; (106) comparing the measured triac temperature of the motor with a threshold value; (107) outputting a motor error to terminate the drying program if the triac temperature of the motor is lower than said threshold value; (108) comparing the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with a predefined value if the second measured temperature of the heater is not lower than the reference temperature or the triac temperature of the motor is not lower than said threshold value; (109) continuing to measure the temperature of the heater for a third time period if the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; (110) measuring a temperature of the heater for the third time, at the end of the third time period; (111) comparing the difference between third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with said predefined value; (112) outputting a heater error to terminate the drying program if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; and (113) continuing the drying program if the difference between second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value, or if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when the drying device is operated by selecting a drying program, the selected drying program is initiated (100). When the drying program is initiated (100), first the motor is run (101) together with a heater (for example, a resistance type heater or a compressor of a heat pump). Following a first time period (t1), temperature of the heater is measured (for example, using the heater's NTC) and the measured temperature of the heater is stored as a reference temperature (102). Here, temperature of the heater is measured for a second time period (t2), and following said second time period (t2), temperature of the heater is measured for the second time and stored as a second temperature of the heater (103). The second temperature of the heater is compared with the reference temperature (104). Here, the second measured temperature of the heater is expected to be equal to or higher than the reference temperature when the dryer is operating normally. If the second measured temperature of the heater is lower than the reference temperature, triac temperature of the motor is measured (105). The measured triac temperature of the motor is compared with a threshold value, so that it is determined whether there is an error caused by the motor (106). If the triac temperature of the motor is lower than the threshold value, a motor error is output to terminate the drying program (107). Here, if the second measured temperature of the heater is not lower than the reference temperature or the triac temperature of the motor is not lower than the threshold value, difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature are compared with a predefined value (108). The predefined value is 6-10°C (more specifically 7°C). If the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value, temperature of the heater is measured for a third time period (109), and at the end of the third time period, the third temperature of the heater is obtained by measuring temperature of the heater for the third time (110). The difference between the third temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is calculated, and said difference is compared with the predefined value (111). If the difference is lower than the predefined value, a heater error is output to terminate the drying program (112). If the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value, or if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value, it is decided that there is no problem in the operation of the dryer, so that the drying program is continued (113). In the operation method according to the present invention, faults in the heater and the motor can be determined practically and reliably according to the heating amounts of the heater at different times and the triac temperature of the motor. When a fault is detected in this way, operation of the dryer is stopped and a warning is output about the source of the fault. In this way, unnecessary operation of the dryer is prevented, and by informing the users about the source of the fault, the fault is easily detected and eliminated by the authorized service.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: (114) detecting an amount of humidity of the air in the drum and / or the dried items by means of a humidity sensor, after the step (113) of continuing the drying program; (115) comparing a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor with a humidity threshold value; (116) waiting for a predetermined time period if the detected humidity value is higher than the humidity threshold value; returning to step (114) of detecting the amount of humidity after the predetermined time period; and (118) completing the drying process if the detected humidity value is not higher than the humidity threshold value. In this embodiment, the method further comprises the step (117) of checking the temperature of the door before the step (118) of completing the drying process (118). Thus, the drying process is completed (118) after the door has been lowered to a safe temperature (for example, below 53°C). In the operation method according to the present invention, whether there is a fault in the components of the dryer is detected in a practical and reliable way, and in case of a fault, operation of the dryer is stopped and the user is informed about the source of the failure. Therefore, the dryer is prevented from operating unnecessarily and wasting energy, as well as providing a quick fault detection.

Claims

CLAIMS An operation method suitable for use in a dryer having at least one body; at least one drum provided in the body; at least one motor for moving the drum; at least one door for accessing into the drum; and at least one heater for heating the air in the drum, the operation method characterized by comprising the steps of:- (100) initiating a drying program;- (101) running the motor;- (102) measuring a temperature of the heater following a first time period (t1) and storing the measured temperature of the heater as a reference temperature;- (103) measuring temperature of the heater for the second time following a second time period (t2);- (104) comparing the second measured temperature of the heater with the reference temperature;- (105) measuring a triac temperature of the motor if the second measured temperature of the heater is lower than the reference temperature;- (106) comparing the measured triac temperature of the motor with a threshold value;- (107) outputting a motor error to terminate the drying program if the triac temperature of the motor is lower than said threshold value;- (108) comparing the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with a predefined value if the second measured temperature of the heater is not lower than the reference temperature or the triac temperature of the motor is not lower than said threshold value;- (109) continuing to measure the temperature of the heater for a third time period if the difference between the second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value;- (110) measuring a temperature of the heater for the third time, at the end of the third time period;- (111) comparing the difference between third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature with said predefined value;- (112) outputting a heater error to terminate the drying program if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is lower than the predefined value; and8- (113) continuing the drying program if the difference between second measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value, or if the difference between the third measured temperature of the heater and the reference temperature is not lower than the predefined value. An operation method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the predefined value is in the range of 6-10°C. An operation method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the predefined value is 7°C. An operation method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (114) detecting an amount of humidity of the air in the drum and / or the dried items by means of a humidity sensor, after the step (113) of continuing the drying program; (115) comparing a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor with a humidity threshold value; (116) waiting for a predetermined time period if the detected humidity value is higher than the humidity threshold value; returning to step (114) of detecting the amount of humidity after the predetermined time period; and (118) completing the drying process if the detected humidity value is not higher than the humidity threshold value. An operation method according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises the step (117) of checking the temperature of the door before the step (118) of completing the drying process (118).9

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