Dryer and method of controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryers face challenges in accurately determining the amount of laundry, leading to inconsistent drying times and potential damage to clothes due to fixed drying settings, and existing methods for sensing laundry quantity in washing machines are not applicable to dryers as they do not account for the differences in weight and movement of wet laundry.
Innovation Solution
A dryer with a controller that manages a drum's rotation speed through an acceleration stage and a maintaining stage, using a current sensing unit to measure motor current, allowing for accurate determination of laundry quantity and adjusting drying operations accordingly to prevent sticking and ensure efficient drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dryer uses a fixed drying time setting based on laundry type, then the drying operation is simple to operate, but the drying time is inaccurate when the amount of laundry varies, leading to over- or under-drying
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer performs a preliminary sensing operation before the actual drying process to detect the amount of laundry. The controller measures the current consumption during a preliminary drum rotation phase, calculates the laundry weight based on this measurement, and then determines the appropriate drying time. This preliminary action enables accurate drying time setting while keeping the overall operation simple for users.
2Productivity
If the dryer increases the temperature to increase drying speed, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the laundry may be damaged by excessive heat
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer dynamically adjusts the drying temperature and time based on the detected laundry amount and type. The controller varies the heating power and drying duration according to the calculated laundry weight, enabling optimal drying speed for each load while preventing overheating damage. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between drying efficiency and laundry protection.
3Device complexity
If the dryer constantly rotates the drum at a preset rotation speed, then the drum operation is simple, but the laundry may stick to the drum wall and drying performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer implements periodic changes in drum rotation speed during the drying process. The controller alternates between different rotation speeds, including higher speeds that create sufficient centrifugal force to prevent laundry from sticking to the drum wall. This periodic variation in rotation speed maintains good drying performance while keeping the control system relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables quick and accurate determination of laundry quantity, preventing over- or under-drying, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing user convenience by optimizing drying time based on the amount and type of laundry.
Implementation Method 1
a current sensing unit configured to measure a current value of the motor
Implementation Method 2
the laundry is lifted by the rotation of the drum and is dropped
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a dryer and a method of controlling the same, the dryer which is capable of: quickly and accurately determining an amount of laundry loaded in the dryer and controlling a drying operation according to the amount of the laundry: measuring a current supplied to rotate the drum and extracting a force applied to laundry in the drum to measure an amount of the laundry, thereby minimizing an error in the amount of laundry and thus enhancing accuracy of the measurement and improving a drying time; setting a drying time in consideration of both a calculated amount of laundry and a type of the laundry, such that damage to the laundry is prevented and over-drying or less-drying of the laundry is solved, thereby efficiently drying the laundry; and setting a drying time or a rotation speed during a drying operation according to an amount of laundry.