A washing machine control method and a washing machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method suitable for a washing machine comprising a tub, a horizontal-axis drum which is disposed in the drum and which has at least one baffle on the inner wall thereof with a known position and a motor which enables the drum to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, comprising the steps of rotating the drum at a high speed when the baffle is under the water level and rotating the drum at a slow speed when the baffle goes above the water level.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine control method for adjusting the rotational speed of the motor moving a horizontal-axis drum.

[0002] Washing machines have a fixed tub and a drum rotating in the tub. The detergent used to clean the laundry loaded into the drum must dissolve rapidly. However, since there is no mechanical action at the bottom section of the tub, other than the rotation of the drum, the dissolution rate of detergent remaining at the bottom of the tub is quite slow. Therefore, the detergent is expected to gradually dissolve and penetrate the laundry over time, which is a rather long process. The failure of the detergent to dissolve within a certain period reduces the washing performance and also adversely affects the user satisfaction.

[0003] In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP0369933, a washing machine control method is disclosed, which enables the detergent to be carried to the uppermost point of the drum and to be poured down onto the laundry so as to be dissolved.

[0004] In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE3324481, a control method is disclosed, which ensures that the drum is rotated at a slower speed at the beginning of the washing cycle and the speed of the drum is gradually increased during the washing cycle.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machines control method which increases the dissolution rate of the detergent in the water such that the detergent-water mixture is applied onto the laundry in the most efficient manner and the washing performance is increased.

[0006] The control method realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, is suitable for a washing machine comprising a tub, a horizontal-axis drum which is disposed in the drum and which has at least one baffle on the inner wall thereof with a known position and a motor which enables the drum to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and comprises the steps of rotating the drum at a high speed when the baffle is under the water level and rotating the drum at a slow speed when the baffle goes above the water level.

[0007] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the steps of rotating the drum at high speed at the beginning of the washing cycle, then rotating the same at a lower speed, stopping the same for a certain period of time and rotating the same again at low speed, and finally rotating the same at high speed once more after a certain period of time.

[0008] In the embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises at least one baffle the position of which is detected by means of a position sensor. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises three baffles which are positioned so as to be distanced from each other at equal angles.

[0009] In the n embodiment of the present invention, the position sensor is at least one reed relay fixed to the tub and at least one magnet fixed to the drum. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnet is positioned on the baffle. In this embodiment, the washing machine comprises three magnets and one of the baffles have thereon the magnet detecting the position of the said baffle while the other two baffles serve only for washing, lifting, and tumbling functions.

[0010] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises a high-speed washing motion at the beginning of the washing cycle for a predefined period for increasing the solubility of the detergent in the water and for taking a large amount of detergent-water mixture into the baffle and a low-speed washing motion which enables the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle to be carried to the uppermost level of the drum to be applied effectively onto the laundry in the drum. The high-speed and low-speed washing motions are triggered based on the position of the baffle. As the baffle approaches the lowermost point of the drum, in other words, the bottom of the tub, the washing motion speed increases, and while climbing toward the uppermost point of the drum, in other words the top of the tub, the washing motion speed decreases.

[0011] In the embodiment of the present invention, upon rapidly hitting the detergent-water mixture at the lowermost point of the drum, the baffle effectively increases the solubility of the detergent in the water. Afterwards, the baffle is enabled to climb to the uppermost point of the drum with a low-speed washing motion. Thus, the detergent-water mixture is enabled to be effectively carried to the uppermost point of the drum, and then effectively poured from the uppermost point of the drum onto the laundry, thus improving the cleaning effect on the laundry.

[0012] In the embodiment of the present invention, during the high speed and low speed washing motions, the drum reverses direction before completing a full rotation from the starting point, thus performing a rocking motion.

[0013] In the embodiment of the present invention, at the beginning of the washing cycle, the drum is rotated such that the baffle scans the drum an angular range of 110° to 130° toward the lowermost point of the drum. In this embodiment of the present invention, the drum is rotated at a washing speed of 45 rpm to 55 rpm at high speed. Thus, the mechanical effect created by the baffle hitting the detergent-water mixture at high speed increases the solubility of the detergent in the water.

[0014] In the embodiment of the present invention, during the motion where the detergent-water mixture in the baffle is carried upward, the washing motion speed is reduced to a low speed of approximately 30 rpm at the point where the baffle emerges from the water level. In this case, the baffle reaches the uppermost level of the drum and all the detergent-water mixture therein is poured onto the laundry and the mechanical motion which enhances the washing effectiveness is completed. While moving from the uppermost point of the drum toward the lowermost point thereof, the baffle approaches a full rotation angle at a low speed of approximately 30 rpm. The baffle moves toward the starting point without completing a full rotation angle, and the drum is stopped for a period predetermined by the manufacturer, approximately 5 seconds. When the drum scanning angle is between 235° and 250°, the drum speed increases to a high speed of approximately 45 rpm to 55 rpm. In this case, the baffle reaches the uppermost level of the drum and releases all of the detergent-water mixture therein onto the laundry, completing the mechanical motion. During the motion where the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle is carried upward in the baffle, the washing motion speed is brought to a low speed of approximately 30 rpm at the point where the baffle, of which the position is known, goes above the water level. At the beginning of the washing cycle, for a period of 10 minutes predetermined by the manufacturer, the washing motion is performed as an oscillating motion referred to as a rocking motion.

[0015] By means of the present invention, it is ensured that the solubility of the detergent in the water at the beginning of the washing cycle is increased and the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle is poured onto the laundry in the most effective manner so as to improve the washing performance.

[0016] A control method realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where: Figure 1 - is the graph of rotation speed versus time in the washing cycle.

[0017] The control method is suitable for a washing machine comprising a tub, a horizontal-axis drum which is disposed in the drum and which has at least one baffle on the inner wall thereof with a known position and a motor which enables the drum to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and comprises the steps of rotating the drum at a high speed when the baffle is under the water level and rotating the drum at a slow speed when the baffle goes above the water level.

[0018] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the steps of rotating the drum at high speed at the beginning of the washing cycle, then rotating the same at a lower speed, stopping the same for a certain period of time and rotating the same again at low speed, and finally rotating the same at high speed once more after a certain period of time.

[0019] In the embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises at least one baffle the position of which is detected by means of a position sensor. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises three baffles which are positioned so as to be distanced from each other at equal angles.

[0020] In the n embodiment of the present invention, the position sensor is at least one reed relay fixed to the tub and at least one magnet fixed to the drum. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnet is positioned on the baffle. In this embodiment, the washing machine comprises three magnets and one of the baffles have thereon the magnet detecting the position of the said baffle while the other two baffles serve only for washing, lifting, and tumbling functions.

[0021] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises a high-speed washing motion at the beginning of the washing cycle for a predefined period for increasing the solubility of the detergent in the water and for taking a large amount of detergent-water mixture into the baffle and a low-speed washing motion which enables the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle to be carried to the uppermost level of the drum to be applied effectively onto the laundry in the drum. The high-speed and low-speed washing motions are triggered based on the position of the baffle. As the baffle approaches the lowermost point of the drum, in other words, the bottom of the tub, the washing motion speed increases, and while climbing toward the uppermost point of the drum, in other words the top of the tub, the washing motion speed decreases.

[0022] In the embodiment of the present invention, upon rapidly hitting the detergent-water mixture at the lowermost point of the drum, the baffle effectively increases the solubility of the detergent in the water. Afterwards, the baffle is enabled to climb to the uppermost point of the drum with a low-speed washing motion. Thus, the detergent-water mixture is enabled to be effectively carried to the uppermost point of the drum, and then effectively poured from the uppermost point of the drum onto the laundry, thus improving the cleaning effect on the laundry.

[0023] In the embodiment of the present invention, during the high speed and low speed washing motions, the drum reverses direction before completing a full rotation from the starting point, thus performing a rocking motion.

[0024] In the embodiment of the present invention, at the beginning of the washing cycle, the baffle scans the drum an angular range of 110° to 130° toward the lowermost point of the drum. In this embodiment of the present invention, the drum is rotated at a washing speed of 45 rpm to 55 rpm at high speed. Thus, the mechanical effect created by the baffle hitting the detergent-water mixture at high speed increases the solubility of the detergent in the water.

[0025] In the embodiment of the present invention, during the motion where the detergent-water mixture in the baffle is carried upward, the washing motion speed is reduced to a low speed of approximately 30 rpm at the point where the baffle emerges from the water level. In this case, the baffle reaches the uppermost level of the drum and all the detergent-water mixture therein is poured onto the laundry and the mechanical motion which enhances the washing effectiveness is completed. While moving from the uppermost point of the drum toward the lowermost point thereof, the baffle approaches a full rotation angle at a low speed of approximately 30 rpm. The baffle moves toward the starting point without completing a full rotation angle, and the drum is stopped for a period predetermined by the manufacturer, approximately 5 seconds. When the drum scanning angle is between 235° and 250°, the drum speed increases to a high speed of approximately 45 rpm to 55 rpm. In this case, the baffle reaches the uppermost level of the drum and releases all of the detergent-water mixture therein onto the laundry, completing the mechanical motion. During the motion where the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle is carried upward in the baffle, the washing motion speed is brought to a low speed of approximately 30 rpm at the point where the baffle, of which the position is known, goes above the water level. At the beginning of the washing cycle, for a period of 10 minutes predetermined by the manufacturer, the washing motion is performed as an oscillating motion referred to as a rocking motion (Figure 1).

[0026] By means of the present invention, it is ensured that the solubility of the detergent in the water at the beginning of the washing cycle is increased and the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle is poured onto the laundry in the most effective manner so as to improve the washing performance.

Claims

1. A control method suitable for a washing machine comprising a tub, a horizontal-axis drum which is disposed in the drum and which has at least one baffle on the inner wall thereof with a known position and a motor which enables the drum to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, comprising the steps of rotating the drum at a high speed when the baffle is under the water level and rotating the drum at a slow speed when the baffle goes above the water level.

2. A control method comprising the steps of rotating the drum at high speed at the beginning of the washing cycle, then rotating the same at a lower speed, stopping the same for a certain period of time and rotating the same again at low speed, and finally rotating the same at high speed once more after a certain period of time.

3. A control method comprising a high-speed washing motion at the beginning of the washing cycle for a predefined period for increasing the solubility of the detergent in the water and for taking a large amount of detergent-water mixture into the baffle and a low-speed washing motion which enables the detergent-water mixture taken into the baffle to be carried to the uppermost level of the drum to be applied effectively onto the laundry in the drum.

4. A control method comprising the steps of increasing the washing motion speed as the baffle approaches the lowermost point of the drum and decreasing the washing motion speed while climbing toward the uppermost point of the drum.

5. A washing machine suitable for a control method as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the baffle which scans the drum an angular range of 110° to 130° toward the lowermost point of the drum at the beginning of the washing cycle.

6. A washing machine suitable for a control method as in any one of Claims, characterized by the drum which is rotated at a washing speed of 45 rpm to 55 rpm at high speed.

7. A washing machine suitable for a control method as in any one of Claims, characterized by the drum which is rotated at a washing speed of 30 rpm at low speed.

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